Swamp Thing (1982)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Wes Craven

Writers:

Wes Craven (writer)
Len Wein (comic book)
(more)

Release Date:

30 July 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Science transformed him into a monster. Love changed him even more!

Plot:

After a violent incident with a special chemical, a research scientist is turned into a swamp plant monster.

Plot Keywords:

DC Comics | Experiment | Mutant | Scientist | Swamp

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Louis Jourdan	...	Dr. Anton Arcane
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Alice Cable
Ray Wise	...	Doctor Alec Holland
David Hess	...	Ferret
Nicholas Worth	...	Bruno
Don Knight	...	Harry Ritter
Al Ruban	...	Charlie
Dick Durock	...	Swamp Thing
Ben Bates	...	Arcane Monster
Nannette Brown	...	Dr. Linda Holland
Reggie Batts	...	Jude
Mimi Craven	...	Arcane's Secretary (as Mimi Meyer)
Karen Price	...	Karen
Bill Erickson	...	Young Agent
Dov Gottesfeld	...	Commando
Tommy Madden	...	Little Bruno
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Jennings	...	Motor Boat Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Wes Craven

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Wes Craven		writer
Len Wein		comic book
Bernie Wrightson		comic book

Produced by
Benjamin Melniker	....	producer
Michael E. Uslan	....	producer

Original Music by
Harry Manfredini

Cinematography by
Robbie Greenberg		(as Robin Goodwin)

Film Editing by
Richard Bracken

Casting by
Barbara Hanley
Cathy Henderson

Production Design by
Robb Wilson King
David Nichols

Costume Design by
Patricia Bolomet
Bennett Choate

Makeup Department
Wren Boney	....	assistant makeup artist
Ken Horn	....	special makeup effects artist: Charleston
Tonga Knight	....	makeup artist
Tony Marrero	....	hair stylist
Esther Mercado	....	special makeup effects artist: Charleston
David B. Miller	....	special makeup effects artist
William Munns	....	special makeup effects designer
Deborah Shankle	....	special makeup effects artist: Charleston

Production Management
Yoram Ben-Ami	....	unit production manager
Paula Benson-Himes	....	post-production supervisor (as Paula Himes)
Robert Bordiga	....	unit production manager
Al Ruban	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yoram Ben-Ami	....	assistant director
Tony Cecere	....	second assistant director
Todd Corman	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Carl Copeland	....	construction coordinator
Tommy Estridge	....	property master (as Tom Estridge)
Robb Wilson King	....	set designer
Rhoda E. Neal	....	assistant art director (as Rhoda Neal)

Sound Department
Robert Deschaine	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Deschaine)
David Dockendorf	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dave Dockendorf)
John L. Mack	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John Mack)

Special Effects by
Arthur Brewer	....	special effects (as Art Brewer)
Geoffrey Rayle	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Pamela Bebermeyer	....	stunts (as Pam Bebermeyer)
Tony Cecere	....	fire gap stuntman
Ted Duncan	....	stunt coordinator
Bill Erickson	....	stunts
Mickey Gilbert	....	airboat stunt coordinator
Mags Kavanaugh	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Russell Jeffcoat	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Michael Wyka	....	casting: Charleston

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bennett Choate	....	Ms. Barbeau's evening gown
Paul Simmons	....	costume designer: Charleston (as Paul A. Simmons)

Editorial Department
Rick Mitchell	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Jack Briggs	....	location manager
Chandler Evans	....	production assistant
Aviva Gellman	....	production auditor
Michael Klastorin	....	unit publicist
Michael McCulley	....	production assistant
Jeffrey Mendel	....	production aide
William Munns	....	prosthetics constructor
Kimberly Myers	....	production office coordinator
Mary Salter	....	set coordinator
Mary Salter	....	set producer
Charlene Webb	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Swampfilms

Distributors

• Embassy Pictures Corporation (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1987) (Belgium) (video)

Runtime:

91 min | Australia:89 min (DVD version) | USA:93 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG (original rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-18 (DVD rating) | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Swampfilms

Trivia:

WILHELM SCREAM: Can be heard as Swamp Thing throws a thug out of his speed boat.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bruno drinks the formula and shrinks, his clothes shrink right along with him.

Quotes:

Swamp Thing: Everything's a dream when you're alone.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Welcome to Primetime (1999) (V)

Amplification of Each's Essence

I really have an affection for this truly campy, cheaply-made, cheesy film from the early 80's. Wes Craven, before he hits it real big, obviously has some directorial flair, but there is a lot here that is atypical of his work. The special effects are really cheap, I mean, aside from the Swamp Thing outfit, everything else is very badly done from the hideous, cowardly midget to the overblown, terrible outfit of another "fearsome" monster that personifies the very essence of evil - or so we are told. It would be very easy to dissect this film for all of its obvious faults, but what I do like is that it has that feel of an old sci-fi film from years gone by - good vs. evil. It has some decent acting and set locations. Louis Jourdan plays the suave villain as well as anybody and David Hess(Last House on the Left fame) plays a despicable henchman with few peers. And Adrienne Barbeau? She bares it and is beautiful in all forms of undress as her cleavage barely manages to stay on as she runs through swampland. She plays Alice Cable, a love interest for the Swamp Thing, a creation of serendipity and scientific experimentation. The story, loosely based on a comic book, is liberally dosed with action, inane dialog, and what you would expect for a film of this ilk, but all enjoyable. I enjoyed the character of Jude too, played with an innocence to acting(and perhaps talent) that few films would allow but comes off I think. Besides, Adrienne Barbeau is in it - this is one of the few times I really would like to have Cable!