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Swamp Thing
1982 91 min United States of America PG 6+
★5.6
Horror, Science Fiction
Director: Wes Craven
Trailers
Description
Mutated by his own secret formula, Dr. Alec Holland becomes Swamp Thing; a half-human, half-plant superhero who will stop at nothing to rescue government agent Alice Cable and defeat his evil arch nemesis...Even if it costs him his life.
Budget:
$3M
Starring
Louis Jourdan
Actor
Adrienne Barbeau
Actor
Ray Wise
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1983
— Best Horror Film
Key opinion
Wes Craven's Swamp Thing is widely viewed as a low-budget, uneven adaptation that fails to capture the gravitas of its source material. While some viewers appreciate it as a campy piece of B-movie nostalgia, the general consensus points to poor production design and a weak script that lacks the director's signature horror tension.
| Acting | Adrienne Barbeau's performance provides a rare anchor of competence in an otherwise shaky production. | |
| Production | The film suffers from unconvincing creature effects and rubber-suit costumes that frequently draw laughter rather than fear. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for being overly predictable and failing to commit to either a serious tone or effective parody. | |
| Score | The score by Harry Manfredini divides opinion, with some finding it a tense highlight of the film and others dismissing it as intrusive or ill-fitting. | |
| Emotion | The film's tone is polarizing: some appreciate the old-school sci-fi charm and campy B-movie feel, while others find the lack of horror and emotional depth disqualifying. |