Man-Thing (2005)

User Rating:

4.1/10   

Director:

Brett Leonard

Writers (WGA):

Steve Gerber (character)
Hans Rodionoff (written by)

Release Date:

21 April 2005 (Singapore)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

When nature fights back!

Plot:

Agents of an oil tycoon vanish while exploring a swamp marked for drilling. The local sheriff investigates and faces a Seminole legend come to life: Man-Thing, a shambling swamp-monster whose touch burns those who feel fear. |

Plot Keywords:

Swamp | Swamp Monster | Shotgun | Marvel Comics | Male Rear Nudity

Cast

Matthew Le Nevez	...	Sheriff Kyle Williams
Rachael Taylor	...	Teri Elizabeth Richards
Jack Thompson	...	Frederic Schist
Rawiri Paratene	...	Pete Horn
Alex O'Loughlin	...	Deputy Eric Fraser
Steve Bastoni	...	Rene LaRoque
Robert Mammone	...	Mike Ploog
Patrick Thompson	...	Jake Schist (as Pat Thompson)
William Zappa	...	Steve Gerber
John Batchelor	...	Wayne Thibadeaux
Ian Bliss	...	Rodney Thibadeaux
Brett Leonard	...	Val Mayerick
Imogen Bailey	...	Sarah
James Coyne	...	Billy James
Cheryl Craig	...	Michele

Also Known As:

Man Thing (UK) (DVD box title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, grisly images, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:97 min | Singapore:96 min | USA:105 min (DVD version) | UK:93 min | Canada:96 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15 | Finland:K-15 | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Lions Gate Films

Trivia:

Although filming was originally intended to be done in New Orleans, budget realities forced the production to be relocated to Australia. They were the first production to use the new Kurnell studios, and enlisted regional actors for virtually every role.

Quotes:

Pete Horn: No man can stand against it alone. Something is out there... waiting.

Marvel's Man-Thing rips apart rednecks in comic book creature feature!

The Schist oil company is polluting the Bywater swamp and the locals are up in arms about it – but that is nothing compared to how the guardian of the swamp, Man-Thing, feels. Man-thing will not rest until the drilling platform has gone, and until then he will kill anyone he can get his branches on.

New sheriff in the town, Kyle Williams, and sexy third grade school teacher, Teri, embark on a quest to put an end to the death and destruction.

Brett Leonard's adaptation of the Marvel comic books is an enjoyable and schlocky monster flick that never gets ideas above its station and is savvy enough to give its core audience exactly what they want; we get moderate gore, a smattering of nudity, a pretty decent monster and a plot that doesn't exactly tax the old grey matter.

The swamp locations are a sufficiently creepy setting for the tale. Swimming in mist and bathed in a spooky green glow, they allow Leonard to use shadows and light for maximum effect - at times concealing the horror and at others, revealing it in its full gory glory.

The effects – both the gore and the creature – are also pretty impressive. When Man-Thing gets busy on his victims, he doesn't hold back and we get a range of gruesome body parts splashed across the screen during its 105 minute running time.

In fact, the only thing that really lets this film down is its pacing. The film is too long (by about 20 minutes) and too much time is spent with characters either chatting or wandering aimlessly through the swamp. If there had been a little less talk and a little more action, I'd have rated it higher.