The last horror, thriller or suspense film you watched

Creature (1998) by Stuart Gillard

Over the last few days, I ended up watching each of the episodes of the mini-series that I think is based on one of Peter Benchley's novels, and is called Creature (1998).

It is about 3 hours long, and where Craig T. Nelson and Kim Cattrall must find a way to destroy a mutated shark, which was born through some rather experimental warfare stuff, back in the early 70s, but then later on escaped into the ocean, and now 25 years later on, it is back, angrier and hungrier than ever!

I remember watching it on norwegian television back in the late 90s and early 00s, specially during the summer, along with my dad. He loved the total cheese factor and we both laughed out at several times, specially of all the silly stuff over-the-top things that takes place.

I mean, here we have a "shark" taking a walk, climbing up the stairs, or even decided to go all the way up into the top of a three, then only to lower itself from a branch, upside down, so it can wait for its potential next victim. And, yeah, there is still some very funny stuff going on here.

The negative thing, is that as so many other very long mini-series, I thought the first half was actually very well paced and enjoyable, and of course not seeing too much of the shark-creature as well, however during the second half, things sadly do end up getting a bit too drawn out, specially the last 15-20 minutes or so, was just a total random and overlong scene, that, well I guess they just either ran out of ideas or time, so just had to make use of what they got.

The positive is that some of (I think actually Stan Winston is involved here) close ups of the shark-thing, specially after it first arrives on land, and tries to breathe with its lungs, that was damn fine work by the special effects team. And I would have liked if they kept the shark "more hidden" and not reveal too much, so often. But, I guess in order to get a hold of the viewers, they just had to sell it for what it was, and it was surely not Jaws (1976), but more a b-movie turned into a 3 hours version.

I also really enjoyed that adventurous and feel-good entertainment it had going, that and surely Kim Cattrall who looks so good in that diving gear, and even better without it.

Over all, I thought it had a good cast of actors, and some of the special effects where very impressive at times, but all in all, it was not a great miniseries, but a more enjoyable one, that I often do re-watch or come back to, specially during the summer. 

5,5/10