Creature from Black Lake (1976)

Two men exploring the Lousiana swamps run into a Bigfoot-type creature.

Director:

Joy N. Houck Jr.

Writer:

Jim McCullough Jr.

Stars:

Jack Elam, Dub Taylor, Dennis Fimple

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Elam	...	Joe Canton
Dub Taylor	...	Grandpaw Bridges
Dennis Fimple	...	Pahoo
John David Carson	...	Rives
Bill Thurman	...	Sheriff Billy Carter
Jim McCullough Jr.	...	Orville Bridges
Roy Tatum	...	Fred / Creature
Cathryn Hartt	...	Eve (waitress) (as Catherine McClenny)
Becky Smiser	...	Becky Carter
Michelle Willingham	...	Michelle
Evelyn Hindricks	...	Grandma Bridges
Roger Pancake	...	H.B.
Karen Brooks	...	Orville's mother
Chase Tatum	...	Baby Orville
Bob Kyle	...	Rufus

Storyline

Some fishermen are attacked in the Louisiana swamps. When the word gets out of a mysterious Bigfoot-type creature, two researchers come to a small town to study and hopefully discover what the beast is. Their research from some farmers help the two men to learn that the creature may be a very angry and murderous missing link.

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Plot Keywords:

creature | swamp | louisiana | water | sheriff | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Demon of the Lake

Filming Locations:

Bossier City, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jim McCullough Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 97 min (video) 95 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The two main characters meet their newfound dates outside a café in northern Louisiana in summer, just after the college year ends, and invite them to meet at their campsite at 7:30, then 7:00pm. Sunset at this latitude in June is close to 8:30pm and it is not completely dark until 9pm then and there (DST), yet it is completely dark when the girls arrive.

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Quotes

Pahoo: Was that is? Was that it? Was that the creature?

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Connections

Referenced in The Wild Man of the Navidad (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Exits and Truckstops"
Written and Performed by Jim McCullough Jr.

User Reviews

Very Scary

I saw this movie for the first time in the theaters when I was 11. It replaced Jaws as the scariest movie I'd ever seen. Jaws has since replaced it again, but having just watched it 25 years later, it still spooked me. It's shot in a sort of documentary-style graininess, with a menacing score, and an effective use of shadow, which almost always obscures glimpses of the creature. I'd say the performances were exceptional for such a low-budget pic. As lush and gracefully beautiful as the swamp looks, you're always apprehensive seeing it as a constant backdrop because of what lurks within it -- much like the graceful ocean always made you uneasy in Jaws. There are hokey moments of course, but let's face it, you don't want to see this movie before you go camping in Louisana. Thumbs up.