Frogs

This one is an early '70s environmental cult film, made at just about the time that "ecology" became a buzzword. It was an early film for Sam Elliott and a late one for Ray Milland but the pair play off one another like cookies and milk.

Here's the story:

Ray Milland plays a wheelchair bound, aristocratic old curmudgeon whose family estate is located on a southeastern U.S. Island... a big swampy place where the Spanish moss hangs everywhere. It's his birthday and his dubious offspring and their partners have arrived by boat at the estate to participate in the obligatory birthday party. Heavy drinking by most seems to be the order of the day. Sam Elliott plays an environmental photographer who gets his canoe swamped by a couple of Milland's intoxicated spawn who are out for a pleasure cruise in a speedboat -- he ends up at the birthday party to recompense him for his rude treatment.

At about this time, the frogs on the island seem to be congregating in huge numbers and it irritates Milland to the point that he's sent out his house man to spray poison here and there to eliminate them... but the frogs know exactly how to deal with such paltry assaults. They secure the help of their amphibian and reptile pals, snakes, hefty lizards, gators... all manner of creepy-crawlers to help them in their quest to take over the island and to eliminate its mostly-nefarious inhabitants.

Soon, Milland has to secure Elliott's help, seeing right away that Elliott is made of firmer stuff than his own spoiled offspring. And from there, life on the island quickly descends downhill. I'll stop here to avoid any spoilers.

This picture is shot in really great color, presented in letterbox format, and runs for 90 minutes. Yes, the acting isn't exactly the stuff of Academy Award material, Ray Milland excepted -- he plays his role brilliantly. But the film is a strange mixture of just being real enough, and just campy enough, to finish at the "magnificent" level of cult film rating.

A curiousity, one of Milland's (caucasian) sons is dating a black gal which, at the time, was a very unusual caveat for any film. Of course, this scenario was cast precisely for the purpose of lending interest to the film and, in my opinion, made this movie a bit of a groundbreaker.

Finally, this is a Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson film which, to us Drive-in movie and late night TV enthusiasts meant one thing: "quality horror". I have watched "Frogs" many times and will do so again.

Highly recommended for appropriate audiences.

"Frogs" is one of my favorite entries in the "Nature Gone Wild" genre. It also belongs in the "Holiday Slasher" genre. I've seen it at least half a dozen times over the past thirty years, usually around the 4th of July.

A wealthy, elderly man lives on a Florida island. He invites his beautiful family for his annual 4th of July birthday bash. One by one the family members die in gruesome ways. However, the culprit is not a psychotic killer but various creepy crawlers (lizards, alligators, snakes, tarantulas, and even a giant alligator snapping turtle). Nature is getting revenge on humans for polluting their environment. This movie boasts a high body count, and it is fun to see who will die next and how they will die.

Sam Elliot and Joan Van Ark are among the cast of veteran actors from the seventies. The film is beautifully shot on location in a Florida park using live reptiles and amphibians. I recommend adding this gem to your "Nature Gone Wild" collection.

Favorite Scene: When Michael shoots himself in the leg while running through the woods. He falls down beneath a tree from which Tarantulas descend and cover him with their sticky webs. He lays paralyzed from their venom while they dine on him. Gross!

No, not the movie...everything written before is pretty accurate - its ridiculously awful. In most of the scenes, the people seem to be attacking the animals rather than the reverse.

"Stunning" refers to a gorgeous young Sam Elliott, caught in a movie he can't save, and the elaborate demin tattoo that was applied to him from the waist down...amazing makeup work. It is a tattoo, right?

I thought this film was entertaining. Animals getting revenge on the people because of polution. The lizards pushing the cans of acid off the shelves in the greenhouse is a very funny scene. The lizards deserve an Oscar for that acting brillance. Don't take the film seriously because its just a goofy treat served up fresh with a side of love.

In the southern part of the U.S., An old millionaire (Ray Milland) has invited his family to his birthday celebration on his private estate island. He kills any pest that tries to get on his property especially frogs but now the frogs, the toads, the alligators, the birds, the insects and other swamp dwelling animal start to go on a raging rampage.

One of the 70's first Eco-horror movies is such a corny but fun movie with a interesting message about either don't pollute the enviroment or else the enviroment might strike back. San Elliot does a good performance as a photographer in this movie, while the film isn't really scary but still a nice little southern tale of echo-vengeance.

This DVD contains nice picture with decent sound with both fullscreen and widescreen formats plus the only extra is a theatrical trailer.

Also recommended: "Creepshow", "Slugs", "Squirm", "Jaws", "The Birds", "Bug (1976)", "Tremors", "Food of the Gods", "Willard (Original and Remake)", "Snakes on a Plane", "Phenomena (a.k.a. Creepers)", "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!", "Alligator", "Day of the Animals", "Kingdom of the Spiders", "Empire of the Ants", "Aracnophobia", "Grizzly", "Cujo", "Pirahna", "The Beyond (a.k.a. 7 Doors of Death)", "Prophecy (1979)", and "Ticks".