The Loch Ness Horror (1982)

good back-story, and good acting

Admirable film.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The Loch Ness Horror is the first film I've encountered so far from Larry Buchanan. Taking one of the oddly underused icons of cryptozoology, a clearly non Scottish setting and some extravagant acting, Buchanan crafts an almost but not quite there work of occasionally inspired b grade junk. The titular beast has a decent enough look to it, it's a big plesiosaur looking beast that likes to nosh on people, though its non jointed jaws mean that it tends more to sort of drape its mouth over people and let them do the work of appearing to be eaten. Its pretty rubbery and not much better than the sort of thing some particularly determined students might botch up over a weekend with some latex, but it has charm. A shame that it doesn't appear more often and doesn't off many people. The film seems more concerned with things like plot and character but lacks the talent or interest for the more cerebral approach. Still, the actors seem to be having fun, often broad to the point of hilarity, between them they conjure a bubbling brew of shonky goodness. The biggest name is b cinema notable Stuart Lancaster, of various Russ Meyer and other Buchanan films fame. He plays a slightly mad scientist, thus gets some fun scenery chewing time, and comically daft motivation. He enters into the spirit of things well, though is slightly restrained for the role. Love interest Miki McKenzie is occasionally incomprehensible, probably best for her as she grapples with her off written character and stiff conversations with hero with the piece, the strapping young Barry Buchanan. Not exactly a thespian is Barry, but he still carries the film well enough, that is to say he stoically hefts his scenes along, handles his dialogue like timber but at least he keeps it moving. Sandy Kenyon is slightly left out by the fact that he appears near competent and so doesn't make as much of an impression. Main plaudits go to Doc Livingston with a fiercely exaggerated Scots accent, his r rolling grizzled old timer is a total hoot. Its lucky that the acting is of interest, since there's a good deal of talk here, (biology, romance, conspiracies, that sort of thing) and the film is a bit slow, there are also padding shots a-plenty to keep things going. The pleasing location means that these shots are generally attractive, but Buchanan rarely puts them to suspenseful use and the film too often slides towards the dull. Still some interesting moments (and one bit that I actually found pretty creepy) but mostly this is skippable for all but bad movie connoisseurs.

Something strange is happening in Loch Ness. The water is crystal clear, nor cold. A giant robotic plastic monster emerges and kills Scots! What is this movie?! First, I love reading stories about Nessie, sea monsters in general. When i saw this for sale, i thought it was a cheap rip off of jaws. No. It was terrible! The story was pointless, acting was 100% garbage, the only up side was the cool mechanical Nessie they used. It was full of inaccuracy, wrong locations, and bad everything. Not worth your while, just leave it on the shelf (or garbage can) you found it on. On second note, This film was shot in Cailifornia, not Loch Ness, a major diss to Nessie fans.

I loved every minute of this film obviously i'm a B-Grade & Z-Grade Sci-Fi, Horror & Fantasy Movie Buff. I got the Pan Canadian VHS in Clamshell Case with Hi-Fi Stereo Sound I recently transferred it to DVD+R. Got the VHS on ebay which I had to go up to thirty something & outbid some ppl. It gave me everything I expected to get from a Z or B Grade movie not sure of the budget on this one will have to find out & update this comment again. Even though Larry Buchanan is the director & producer that brought us his so bad they were good memorable Made For T.V. Z-Grade Originals & Remakes of Sci-Fi & Horror Cult Classics from the 60's such as The Eye Creatures '65, Mars Needs Women '66, In The Year 2889 '66, Zontar, The Thing From Venus '66, Curse Of The Swamp Creature '66, Creature Of Destruction '67 & It's Alive! '69. Which were all Z-Grade & 4 out of the 7 were remakes of earlier AIP 50's B-Grade Sci-Fi & Horror Flicks. Only three were Buchanan's own. Mars Needs Women, Curse Of The Swamp Creature & It's Alive!. Nessie looks pretty realistic I'd say considering it is B-Grade or Z-Grade. Even for it's time. Although I expected a little more violence like when the monster attacks the guy with the pistol on the road, you know the J.O. trying to escape with Nessie's egg trying to make a fortune, he got what he deserved. Although she was friendly towards the girl at least she killed in this one unlike "Loch Ness" from '96 with Ted Danson. The scene with that jerk's head was crushed that scene could of been done better. Buchanan is into all that gore though so. The story made sense & Nessie wasn't just attacking for no reason. so. The best Nessie flick i'd say. I also have seen "The Secret Of The Loch" from 1934 which was very disappointing to see Nessie as a magnified Iguanna Lizard. I was expecting to see the traditional stop-motion animation creature Willis O'Brien should of did that film after all he did Kong the year before. The Loch Ness Horror (1982) this site has 1981 for the release year this is incorrect it was filmed in 1981 but released into theaters in 1982. http://www.allmovie.com/ has 1982 listed as it's release year which is correct. Yes Nessie's roar does sound like a Tie Fighter & that is cool makes it unique I think which another user on here stated that in a comment. The Crater Lake Monster (1977) is the best Lake Monster Flick obviously cause of the great David Allen's Stop-Motion Animation work done on that film. And the whole Pleasiosaurus is shown in The Crater Lake Monster. But not in The Loch Ness Horror Anyway I am a Buchanan Fan & The Loch Ness Horror is the second best Lake Monster Flick it gets a 5. The Loch Ness Horror still hasn't turned up on DVD yet it would be nice to see a DVD Buchanan has passed on nice to see more of his stuff come out on DVD like this. I have 2 different DVDR's of this one is of The U.S. Monterey Home Video VHS came in an over-sized cardboard video box "Midnight Madness" is at the top of the box. Really good film print on that VHS. The other is the Pan Candian VHS Release which the print isn't as good has faded color with specs of dirt & some scratches. I have both on DVDR. Would be nice to see a real DVD of this released in the near future with extras including the trailer which I have seen online before great Trailer.

What can I say about a movie as bad as this? The people who made this movie, didn't even try to make the monster in it look realistic. You never see more than its head, and the head is just a giant puppet that has little movement except for when it opens it mouth to roar. And the sound they used for the roaring is the best part. At many points in the movie it sounds exactly like a TIE fighter flying over! I couldn't believe that when I first heard it and had to rewind several times to make it sink in. Other than the terrible looking monster and the noises it makes, there isn't much more to this film except for a few corny attack scenes and the crazy Scotsman attacking the kids trying to have an intimate moment in his castle. Still, it's watchable if you like this sort of trash. I know I do....