by Hayley Louise Charlesworth
A 1970s B-movie horror film about evil amphibians starring Sam Elliot sounds like everybody’s dream, doesn’t it?
Well, let me introduce you to Frogs, a “Hitchcock-inspired” animal horror that’s full of toads playing frogs, crotchety old wheelchair-bound men shooting snakes of chandeliers, and full denim outfits.
A 1970s B-movie horror film about evil amphibians starring Sam Elliot sounds like everybody’s dream, doesn’t it?
Well, let me introduce you to Frogs, a “Hitchcock-inspired” animal horror that’s full of toads playing frogs, crotchety old wheelchair-bound men shooting snakes of chandeliers, and full denim outfits.
Frogs is the story of old disabled millionaire Jason Crockett, who invites his family to his island estate for his birthday party. As the DVD cover announces, “the old man is more than crotchety…he’s crazy!” For Crockett despises animals and nature, and poisons everything on his land. Naturally, the animals are going to get pissed about this, and fight back, “as thousands of frogs whip up every bug and slimy thing into a toxic frenzy until the entire environment goes environ-mental.” (Even the plot summary is incredible.)
The two big delights of Frogs are the increasingly bizarre deaths and the incredibly 70s costumes. Sam Elliot’s Pickett Smith wears full denim (the fabric choice of a hero!), Adam Roarke as “Clint” (credited with said speech marks on the DVD, as if Clint’s true identity is a mystery known only to the frogs) looks incredibly groovy, but the greatest of all is Michael. Clad in skin tight bright red trousers, Michael also gets one of the best death scenes ever committed to film. In the greenhouse, a smiley looking gecko roams the shelves, and knocks over a bottle clearly labelled “POISON” for the viewer while Michael is inside. Then, as Michael slowly chokes to death, the camera cuts back to the gecko, mouth open in a mocking, sadistic grin. It is the greatest acting from a reptile you are likely to ever see
The two big delights of Frogs are the increasingly bizarre deaths and the incredibly 70s costumes. Sam Elliot’s Pickett Smith wears full denim (the fabric choice of a hero!), Adam Roarke as “Clint” (credited with said speech marks on the DVD, as if Clint’s true identity is a mystery known only to the frogs) looks incredibly groovy, but the greatest of all is Michael. Clad in skin tight bright red trousers, Michael also gets one of the best death scenes ever committed to film. In the greenhouse, a smiley looking gecko roams the shelves, and knocks over a bottle clearly labelled “POISON” for the viewer while Michael is inside. Then, as Michael slowly chokes to death, the camera cuts back to the gecko, mouth open in a mocking, sadistic grin. It is the greatest acting from a reptile you are likely to ever see
Frogs is not short of cracking deaths, such as a poor woman munched on by a snapping turtle, an old lady being sucked slowly into a swamp, and a bunch of spiders suffocating with their web. Despite the title, the frogs (which are actually toads) don’t really do much except sit around, letting the rest of nature do their work. Like true master villains.
Surprisingly, Frogs does defy convention. Instead of the tried and tested “black guy dies first” formula, some of the film’s only survivors are Crockett’s waddling black butler Charles and his family. Meanwhile, the rich white folks continue to die in increasingly ludicrous ways. Was this an attempt at social commentary? Probably not.
So why should you watch Frogs? In short, it’s brilliant. Like Birdemic, it is exactly what happens when a director tries to take something completely not scary and turn it into sheer terror. Unless you’re a fly, though, it’s impossible to do that with frogs. But you have to admire the enthusiasm and dedication with which the director and script makes the attempt. Plus, Sam Elliot in full denim, surely that’s everybody’s fantasy?
Surprisingly, Frogs does defy convention. Instead of the tried and tested “black guy dies first” formula, some of the film’s only survivors are Crockett’s waddling black butler Charles and his family. Meanwhile, the rich white folks continue to die in increasingly ludicrous ways. Was this an attempt at social commentary? Probably not.
So why should you watch Frogs? In short, it’s brilliant. Like Birdemic, it is exactly what happens when a director tries to take something completely not scary and turn it into sheer terror. Unless you’re a fly, though, it’s impossible to do that with frogs. But you have to admire the enthusiasm and dedication with which the director and script makes the attempt. Plus, Sam Elliot in full denim, surely that’s everybody’s fantasy?
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