There are many moments to savor in this exciting, intriguing follow-up to "Creature From the Black Lagoon." The lovely heroine (Lori Nelson) stares at the captured creature (In Marineland of Florida, at the time only 17 years in existence, and called Marine Studios), through the glass of the aquarium, two strangers in a man's world. She talks about her career while her peers have already married and had children while also feeling sorry for the creature, a lonely alien in civilization. Later, she takes a shower in a motel, with the escaped creature outside, in a chilling pre-"Psycho" sequence. Taking a swim in the Florida Everglades, (echoing the famed Julie Adams-Creature pas de deux in the original), the "gill-man" watches from below, but she is joined by her boyfriend (John Agar), who kisses her mid-scene. Since this occurs in the last act, and the "Gill-Man" has already had his eye on Ms. Nelson, and even grabbed her, it makes no sense to be shyly staring again. The creature costume is changed this time - apparently goggles were inserted into the mask to make it easier for Rico Browning's underwater swimming, as well as for Tom Hennesy, the 6'5" top side Creature actor. It also gives him eyes underwater, hollow in the first film. For those theorizing how this species can survive in both freshwater and saltwater, the Creature is a Euryhaline fish, able to adapt to both environments. Great, eerie night-time photography at the end and thrilling scenes make this a winning sequel.
Review of Revenge of the Creature
