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:

This was originally intended for a direct-to-video release, but later there was plans for a small release to theaters. However those plans were scrapped, and the movie's fate became unknown, until it was later announced as a Sci Fi Channel original movie for Spring 2005. The DVD and VHS became available in Summer 2005.

Quotes:

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

A decent Slasher/Monster flick

There are reviews out there that claim this movie is horrid. um, you expected what exactly from a movie called "MAN-thing"? I'm familiar with the comic and sure, they've changed things like they did for the Blade character in his movies. Honestly I don't know what else they could of done without making this a goofy teen comedy about some ones "man thing" (ok now that penis joke is out of my system!!) This is B movie, pure and simple. Its a slasher/monster flick and when u view it as just that, not some citizen kane like master piece, then you'll enjoy it. It has some good Cheap scares and a monster tree that goes around butchering people. Did I mention that there is a lot of gore and plenty of violent deaths that would make a Friday the 13th fan happy? Graphic Tree tentacle/root impalings are the order of the day. The special effects are fine, the story does the job for this sort of movie, and its probably the bloodiest Marvel movie yet (I kid u not) The only thing that got to me was some of the casting. Now I know a lot of no name Australian Actors were cast for this movie and well... Aussies cant pull a southern accent off for crap. Its not a major problem, 15 minutes into it and you don't really notice (in between all the tree branch impalings!!) But I have to say that Jack Thompson and the female lead are the worst offenders in this regard. The rest of the cast do a decent job. Oh, and I've read some reviews on certain sites that the ManThing monster is hardly shown. Thats BS. The director takes the jaws route at the start of the movie, showing very little of the monster but by the last half hour u get to see plenty of him. And for a low budget flick, the monster effects are pretty cool - better than say - the monster effects in StarShip troopers 2, another low budget direct to video flick. Overall for a Direct to video movie, ManThing does the job. It would have been a misfire to release this theatrically, but for a sci fi channel/Direct to DVD movie this one is much much better than some of the other Direct to video movies (Boa Vs Python, dragon slayer etc etc) Worth a watch if ur into B movies or slasher or monster flicks with lotsa gore. 6/10