Creature (1998)

In the early 1970s in the Caribbean, Dr. Ernest Bishop is part of a military experiment involving a creature that is part shark, part dolphin, and part something else (I'll let you find that out later). Something goes terribly wrong and at least one person dies. And the creature is loose to wreak havoc 25 years later (never mind the fact that it is somehow able to go for years without eating).

Ben Madiera is a member of a group fishing off the coast of Dr. Simon Chase's island. Dr. Chase is tracking a great white shark he has tagged, and has discovered one of Madiera's group has caught it. He pleads for the great white to be released, but they refuse. Dr. Chase frees the shark anyway, and from this point on he is hated by Madiera's group.

Several people die in what seem to be shark attacks, so naturally Dr. Chase is blamed, since that must have been his shark. There is evidence the creature is not a shark, but people won't listen. Dr. Chase's ex, Dr. Amanda Mayson, comes to the rescue, bringing the couple's son Max, who is always being put in danger. Dr. Chase's research finally indicates the military was involved with the creature, and he is put in touch with Admiral Aaron Richland, whose only concern is covering up what makes the Navy look bad. Dr. Bishop is just a burned-out mess, much like hippies who took too many drugs.

Dr. Chase acts a little too zealously because he discovers the research that led to the creature might have cured his brother's cancer had it been made available, and he wants the world to know about the findings. This may not be a good idea.

As one might expect, more people die and no one seems to take Dr. Chase seriously, people use amazingly bad judgment, and of course there is an exciting and dangerous sequence of events toward the end.

This was actually better than I was expecting. There were lots of enjoyable family moments, and I liked the conflict between Dr. Chase and those who should have acted to correct the situation and save lives. Craig T. Nelson did a fine job, considering the material, and there was more good acting. I don't particularly enjoy scary movies, but there's plenty of excitement here for those who like that sort of thing.

Whether the Caribbean cultural rituals were done correctly I can't say, but they sure looked real to me. I didn't really enjoy them, though.

I didn't enjoy looking at the creature, but it sure looked scary enough.

It's no classic, but it might be entertaining.