I'm surprised Dinocroc doesn't have a somewhat elevated reputation within the realm of low-budget sci-fi monster movies. True, it has its weaknesses, but compared to many other similar films it comes off pretty well. The script tells a familiar story of science gone wrong as a genetic experiment results in a ravenous prehistoric pseudo-crocodile which proceeds to terrorize the people of a small town. The monster--that would be the Dinocroc of the title--looks decent for a low-budget creation and is appropriately fearsome. The big difference between Dinocroc's script and that of many similar features is that a great deal of time is invested in the main characters, who generally come off as rather more realistic than the types who usually populate such films. They aren't all likable, but they are for the most part fairly true to life. Because of this, the on screen perils they face have a bit of an edge to them. This is particularly the the case when a young boy meets a grisly demise at the hands of the Dinocroc. The scene is set up well and carries an emotional impact that is a little rare for movies of this caliber. Though the ending does allow for a sequel, it doesn't ruin the preceding story and is a little ambiguous in nature, so even those viewers (like myself) who hate the usual "cheat" endings horror movies are known for shouldn't get their feathers ruffled. Obviously Dinocroc isn't a classic and it is very much a b-movie, it is nonetheless much better than some of its contemporaries and worth a watch by fans of the genre.
