Dinocroc vs. Supergator Blu-ray delivers stunning video and great audio, but overall it's a mediocre Blu-ray release
Scientist Jason Drake has been holed up deep within a secret island laboratory of an unscrupulous biotech corporation. Doing what? Meddling with the laws of nature, of course! When he turns his attention from mutating fruits and vegetables to alligators, crocodiles and dinosaurs, something’s bound to grow to horrific proportions – and escape! Now, two of his most terrifying creations are loose on a tropical island paradise. Bullets won’t stop them. Explosives only tick them off. And their ravenous appetite for scientists, tourists, mercenaries and swimsuit models keeps growing.
Alligator and crocodile are mortal enemies. I say we bring them together. We make them fight.
The highly successful Roger Corman/SyFy collaboration continues with Dinocroc vs. Supergator, another in the ever-growing
catalogue of films featuring oversized creatures battling it out for supremacy of the cheap thrills made-for-television movie market. Take a moment
and imagine what this movie will be like. Scientific mumbo jumbo serving as a plot current? Check. Bad special effects? Check. Tertiary characters
being eaten by said bad special effects? Check. Awful acting? Check. Dinocroc vs. Supergator never once deviates from what's expected of it.
Whether that's a blessing or a curse is up to each individual viewer, but suffice it to say there's no mystery here and the movie runs like clockwork.
It's simply not at all good, and whatever novelty there might have been in this kind of venture has worn off. Dinocroc vs. Supergator is fun to
a point; it's a party movie and nothing more, and at least give it credit for sticking to its guns and not even trying to be anything or advertise itself as
something that it's not.
I'm like totally about to be eaten by a ScFy special effect!
In a secluded corner of Hawaii, scientists have been studying the growth matrix of animals. When the compound, dubbed Sector 13, loses control of
two of its most prized scientific accomplishments -- a dinosaur/crocodile hybrid and an oversized alligator -- all hell breaks loose. The creatures
head
on out their own separate ways, leaving a trail of destruction and death in their respective paths. Project financier Jason Drake (David Carradine)
attempts to manage the crisis while poolside at his home. His solution: bring in one of the world's foremost animal hunters, a Louisianan known as
"The Cajun" (Rib Hillis). As the monsters tear apart unsuspecting vacationers and other assorted people, the race to stop them leads those in the
know to propose the only solution that might work: pit the two creatures one against the other and kill the eventual weakened victor.
Dinocroc vs. Supergator needs only ten seconds to demonstrate its superior cheesiness. The film begins with actors who can't act running
away in over-exaggerated fear from a poorly-executed but fairly-designed special effect. No matter, the film dives right into mutated creatures
eating
people, observers being smashed underneath fallen concrete walls, and all sorts of chaotic pandemonium. Indeed, the film doesn't try to hide its
style
or aspirations, and good on it and all those involved for getting down to business and playing right into the concept. Unfortunately, the film wears
down its audiences rather quickly. Maybe if Dinocroc vs. Supergator were the first of its kind, or the first of such films one has seen, it
might
come across as slightly more entertaining (certainly not "better") than it really is. The film follows the Roger Corman/SyFy script to the letter, never
once deviating from the primary elements that differ from one picture to the next only through a change in actors and a differently-shaped special
effect. As the scientific mumbo jumbo is explained and the main characters assemble to try and decide what to do about the
creature(s), the creature(s) go around killing completely random characters who are developed just enough to annoy the audience and suddenly
become lunch for the hungry beast(s). That's it up until the climax where, well, best leave that to the imagination.
If the sheer predictability of the plot and the bad special effects aren't reason enough to skip this movie, check out the acting. Roger Corman once
again
lands a "name" actor to star in one of these movies; this time it's David
Carradine, who may be seen sipping some "Jac
Dan" whiskey while spitting out line after line of pointless dialogue that only wears down the audience rather than build up the
story. The remainder of the primary cast wanders around with a slight air of competency about it, but it's in those scenes where random people
are killed by the special effects does the movie really bring on the laughs and groans. What's amazing is that the performances become appreciably
worse as the film
moves along. The first young-in-love beachside couple die with dignity, but it's all downhill from there. A pair of blondes who have trouble forming
sounds into words seem like the worst the movie has to offer, only to be one-upped by an older couple in search of a Hawaiian resort bungalow that
once housed Elvis Presley. Maybe Roger Corman and company cast these roles as favors or they bring in non-actors who will
stink up the screen so badly that audiences will cheer on their cinematic deaths, but either way, prepare to cringe and plop in G.I. Joe when this one's over and revel at Channing Tatum's
comparatively amazing effort.
Dinocroc vs. Supergator arrives on Blu-ray with a flat and glossy 1080p transfer that's reflective of the film's shot-on-video source. That said,
the results are quite good in terms of detailing and color. Where the transfer lacks much natural depth or filmic texture, it excels in the delivery of
wonderfully vibrant colors that span a wide Hawaiian spectrum. Lush natural greens, beautiful blue skies, and dots of additional reds and yellows impress
throughout. Fine detail is nothing short of spectacular, with the transfer yielding complex facial structures, intricate clothing textures, and all sorts of
visible goodness with ease. The image remains sharp and focused, blurry only when the camera shakes around the special effects. Blacks can be a little
sloppy,
but flesh tones appear natural if not slightly red in a few cases. Better, the image is practically free of banding, background noise, and blocking. For a
low rent made for TV movie, Dinocroc vs. Supergator sure does look good on Blu-ray.
Dinocroc vs. Supergator features a solidly unspectacular Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack, meaning it's well-engineered and highly
satisfactory but in no way distinguishable from any number of other quality audio Blu-ray presentations. Music is well spaced and nicely balanced,
staying primarily up front but enjoying a touch of surround support. Sound effects are nicely integrated, whether heavy zipping gunfire or the blaring of
an alarm klaxon signaling the creatures's escape at film's start, again all featuring a steady diet of subtle surround support. Likewise, ambient effects are
seamlessly integrated into the track, with several tropical Hawaiian locales nicely springing to life throughout. The low end kicks in to support the heavy
footfalls and general combat accompanying the on-screen appearance of the title creatures. Dialogue is center-based and always clear, rounding a stable
soundtrack into form.
Aside from the Dinocroc vs. Supergator trailer (1080p, 1:35), all that's included is a well-spoken and informative audio commentary from
Executive Producer Roger Corman and Director Jim Wynorski (a.k.a. Jay Andrews). Corman again proves himself to be the king of commentaries,
delivering an even and interesting listen that does a fine job of discussing many aspects revolving around the making of the movie and low-budget
filmmaking in general. As always with a Corman track, this one is a must-listen.
Why they haven't just gone ahead and created a bracket and made each of these sorts of movies as if a "playoff" between each monster, ultimately
naming one the "Destructor of the Universe" and placing it in its own movie where it makes havoc and destroys all mankind is a head-scratcher for sure
(and if they do it, send the royalties this way). Dinocroc vs. Supergator is another meaningless romp through the world SyFy Channel
entertainment. The movie is built around shallow characters, bad acting, cheesy special effects, and a laughable script. Still, it's fun enough in a
B-movie
sort of way, which is
really all that matters in a picture like this; the peripherals just don't count, nor should they, if the film succeeds in achieving its one singular goal to
send
out a few cheap thrills audience's way. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Dinocroc vs. Supergator features terrific video, good audio, and a solid
commentary track. For gluttons for punishment only.
Anchor Bay Entertainment have announced that they will release on Blu-ray the ultimate Monster (S)Mash: Dinocroc Vs. Supergator, from Oscar-winning executive producer Roger Corman. Dinocroc Vs. Supergator reunited Corman with cult star David Carradine (Death Race ...
