Creature (1998) (TV)

Director:

Stuart Gillard

Writers (WGA):

Peter Benchley (novel)
Rockne S. O'Bannon (teleplay)

Release Date:

17 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

An amphibious shark-like monster terrorizes an abandoned secret military base and the people who live on the island it is located on...

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Island | Flamethrower | Two Part TV Movie | Admiral

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Craig T. Nelson	...	Dr. Simon Chase
Kim Cattrall	...	Dr. Amanda Mayson
Colm Feore	...	Adm. Aaron Richland
Toi Svane Stepp	...	Krystyn (as Toi Svane)
Michael Reilly Burke	...	Adam Puckett
Michael Michele	...	Tauna
Matthew Carey	...	Maxwell Bishop
Megalyn Echikunwoke	...	Elizabeth
Blu Mankuma	...	Rollie Gibson
John Aylward	...	Ben Madiera
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Lt. Thomas Peniston / Werewolf
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michel Aubertin	...	Kimo
James Coleman	...	Bobby Tobin
Antoni Corone	...	Exec (as Antoni Cornacchione)
Rob Daprocida	...	Seal Ochoa
Colin Lawrence	...	Communications Officer
Steve Makaj	...	SEAL Team Leader Taylor
Juliana Prospere	...	Robbi
Rick Ravanello	...	SEAL Team Member
Elvira Regis	...	Old Woman
Gary Reineke	...	Dr. Ernest Bishop
Kennedy Samuel	...	Nathan
Gandolph St. Clair	...	Dr. Bastien
Brian Steele	...	The Creature
Warren Takeuchi	...	SEAL Team Member
Jill Teed	...	SEAL Team Member Greg
Cress Williams	...	Tall Man

Also Known As:

Peter Benchley's Creature

Runtime:

240 min | 60 min (4 episodes) | Brazil:140 min (compact video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Sweden:15 | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

St Lucia

Company:

MGM Television

Trivia:

This movie was filmed partly on the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, the directors didn't pay enough attention to some of the local speaking "extras" who, in the scene with the young boy in the town of Soufriere, one of the locals curses a certain part of his mother’s reproductive anatomy in the local Creole dialect - Patois. Oops!!!

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Tthe Beretta M9 wasn't developed until 1976 and didn't enter service in the US military until the 90s, where as the beginning of the movie takes place in 1972. Also, the M16 that Peniston had just before letting the Creature's cage go was the A2 model, which wasn't developed until 1981 and didn't enter service until 1983.

Insufferably long

I watched this movie on Sci-Fi and it lasted 3 hours (including commercials), which means they had to pad at least an hour of fodder into this run-of-the-mill monster flick. The suspense wasn't there - it certainly can't be compared to 'Jaws.' The creature wasn't particularly scary - think a walking 'Jaws' shark. The film was riddled with cliches - the disbelieving townsfolk, the belligerent military, etc. The film's only salvation is the fine lead actors, especially a pre-'Sex and the City' Kim Cattrall. But it is all they can do to not let the film drag them down with it. 2/10.