Frogs

Frogs (1972)

Freelance photographer Pickett Smith is out taking pictures of wildlife and pollution around the island on which the crotchety old wheelchair bound millionaire Jason Crockett has built his rather luxurious estate. After his canoe is tipped over by some of Jason's grandchildren who are zipping around the lake in a speedboat, they take him to the estate where several other members of the Crockett family are gathered for a big birthday celebration. Soon problems with the local wildlife begin to plague the family, starting off with hoards of croaking toads, snakes sneaking into the house and a dead body that is found which had previously been a Crockett family servant who was sent to poison the frogs in the bay to get rid of them. Soon the situation escalates and “nature” lead by the Frogs, begins to attack and kill the people on the island estate in various and sundry ways, getting revenge for all the pollution and poisons that have been unleashed on the environment in years past.

The plot and writing are pretty bad, trying to convey an eco-friendly warning while telling soap opera like subplots involving the various Crockett family members. I'm indifferent about the acting, it isn't always horrible, but doesn't do much to improve the story. There are few special effects but the ones this movie does have are rather horrible. At one point a man is being entangled by Spanish moss with obviously fake toy spiders in it. One good thing about the movie is that it is shot in a pretty location, with lots of nice natural scenery. Also, there are tons of real live reptiles and amphibians featured in the movie. They are usually shown sitting or wandering around while ominous music plays in the background and hysterical victims run around screaming and flailing their arms in the air.

This movie is not good, but it can be fun to watch under the right circumstances. If you are looking for a bad horror movie that is bearable to sit through and have some friends with you who can help you make fun of it, this is the movie for you! If you are looking for a good horror movie that will frighten you at all, start looking through our other reviews to find something else.

2 out of 4

Reviewed by Scott Schwarzwalder