CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE (aka DEMON OF THE LAKE, SILENT STALKER, 1976)

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Directed by Joy N. Houck Jr.
Written by Jim McCullough Jr.
Check out the trailer here!!

A pair of kooky, but determined college kids from Chicago set out to Louisiana to investigate recent reports of a large bipedal creature known as the Creature, more commonly known as Bigfoot. Once there, they run afoul of the local sheriff, meet some swell underage gals, and eventually encounter the Creature themselves.

CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE came along on the heels of LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK, but while BOGGY CREEK went down in history as a cult classic, CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE kind of faded into obscurity. That’s too bad and I might catch a lot of flack for this opinion, but I feel BOGGY CREEK is overrated while CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE feels like an unearthed gem of a fun flick. That doesn’t mean this isn’t a goofy movie. There are a lot of goofy aspects, but CREATURE offers up some interesting theories, some nicely suspenseful moments, a likable cast, and an actual story rather than just a series of events loosely threaded together.

First and foremost, CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE delves into something that has been associated with Bigfoot research through the years, namely the fact that people don’t really want to talk about the monster for fear that they will be looked at as crazy by the public. This seems to be a common phenomenon and while there are just as many people like myself who want to believe and desperately would love to see the monster, there are others who are not only scarred emotionally for seeing the monster, but don’t want to bring unnecessary attention to themselves because of the sightings. When the kids make it to Louisiana, it takes them quite a lot of time to find someone willing to talk with them about the creature. I’ve never really seen a Bigfoot film delve into this topic and it sets CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE apart from its contemporaries for doing so. Because the kids are looking at this as a research project, they point out this phenomenon of keeping the creature secret, especially from outsiders who may bring unneeded attention to themselves and their small town.

The cast of CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE is pretty likable and impressive for the time. EMPIRE OF THE ANTS’ John David Carson and HOUSE OF 1,000 CORPSES’ Dennis Fimple plays the two student researchers Rives and Pahoo, respectively. While Fimple has an aw shucks mentality and comes off as goofy most of the time, Carson evens the team out as the hunky, levelheaded one. Still, both exude a youthful enthusiasm that makes you root for their success and survival. The rest of the cast is made up of popular old coots you’ve seen in tons of older films. First off you have Jack Elam. When you can’t get George Buck Flower for your movie, you move on to Jack Elam to play the drunken outsider and Elam does it well here as a mad trapper who we see encounter the creature during the opening credits. While Elam is often typecast as this character, he gives this character a sense of gravitas. Dub Taylor also pops up as the Grandpappy of one of the witnesses of the Creature who is overprotective of his family and their well-being, but willing to open up and chat about it for a cool $25.00 when offered. Taylor often appears as the saloon owner or cowhand in Western movies, but this more substantial role shows his range and likability much more. He’s got some of the best lines in the movie regarding the rules of his home and the reluctance to talk about the creature. Rounding out the cast of old coots is THE LAST PICTUE SHOW and GATOR BAIT’s Bill Thurman who plays the sheriff who don’t take too kindly to city folks pokin’ their noses around where it taint belong. Thurman is playing a cliched role here, but still manages to show a bit of tolerance and humanity in a pinch. He’s surprisingly lenient when he catches his underage daughter hanging with these college kids. Finally, writer of CREATURE OF BLACK LAKE, Jim McCullough Jr. plays one of the main witnesses of the Creature and while he is somewhat reserved in the role, he treats us to a song on the porch about takin’ his gal on a date on Saturdays that adds loads of downhome flavor. Overall, the cast feels genuine and lived in. Still they aren’t the local non-actors found in BOGGY CREEK. These guys are actual actors and it makes a world of difference.

The use of a college crew investigating Bigfoot isn’t a new one. Most of the Bigfoot films begin this way. But CREATURE OF BLACK LAKE uses this impetus for a story the best of the bunch. Yes, it’s not really feasible that students could get credit for going out on their own and finding Bigfoot, but the film sells it and moves on to more interesting things. There’s one flashback to a sighting that is decently paced and while the bulk of the film isn’t very suspenseful, I found myself caring for the lives of these locals and kids more than most Bigfoot films. The climax of the film amps up the suspense quite nicely as the students battle for survival against the beast and end up coming out much worse than they did going into this little adventure. There’s even a fiery car crash that shows this film actually had a bit of a budget, which is more than you can say for the bulk of Bigfoot flicks.

The Creature himself looks ok. He’s said to be massive, but because it is a tightly fitting furry suit, it clings to the actor, making him look less imposing and rather slim. He’s also not as tall as described, but due to some creative camera angles, made to look much bigger. All in all this is a better looking Bigfoot costume than most.

I’m going to give CREATURE OF BLACK LAKE Four Feets and Two Toes.

There is a goofiness that undercuts a lot of the more creepier elements, but it goes through the typical Bigfoot story with style and has the cast to back it up. The ending is strong and the film brings up themes like why people wouldn’t want to talk about Bigfoot, which is not delved into much in the subgenre. Still, of the Bigfoot films of its era, CREATURE OF BLACK LAKE is my favorite of the bunch.