The Return of Swamp Thing (1989)

User Rating:

3.5/10   

Director:

Jim Wynorski

Writers (WGA):

Len Wein (comic book) &
Bernie Wrightson (comic book) ...

Release Date:

12 May 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror | Comedy | Action | Adventure

Tagline:

America's favorite super hero is back in action!

Plot:

The Swamp Thing returns to battle the evil Dr. Arcane, who has a new science lab full of creatures transformed by genetic mutation...

Plot Keywords:

Swamp | Mutation | Human Experiment | Sequel | Grenade

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Louis Jourdan	...	Dr. Anton Arcane
Heather Locklear	...	Abby Arcane
Sarah Douglas	...	Dr. Lana Zurrell
Dick Durock	...	Swamp Thing
Joe Sagal	...	Gunn
Ace Mask	...	Dr. Rochelle
Monique Gabrielle	...	Miss Poinsettia
RonReaco Lee	...	Omar
Daniel Emery Taylor	...	Darryl Hallenbeck (as Daniel Taylor)
Ralph Pace	...	Sheriff Beaumont
Timothy Birch	...	Clyde
Alex Van	...	Gurdell
Christopher Doyle	...	Leechman
Rex Pierson	...	Dr. Rochelle Mutation
Tony Sears	...	Harry Dugan (as Anthony Sears)

Runtime:

UK:84 min (DVD) | USA:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:PG | UK:15 (video rating) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Savannah, Georgia, USA

Company:

Lightyear Entertainment

Trivia:

With this film, Dick Durock became the first actor since Christopher Reeve to reprise the role of a DC Comics protagonist.

Quotes:

Abby Arcane: Immortality? Yuk! What did you do, sell your soul to the devil?
Dr. Anton Arcane: More like a lease with an option to buy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Invasion of the Scream Queens (1992)

Soundtrack:

Red Hot Hog Women From Mars

Possibly better than the original...

Return of the Swamp Thing takes the best aspect of the original Wes Craven cult classic (its camp value) and also the worst (its discontinuity with the comics) to produce an exceedingly silly and over-the-top film that ranks right up there with Attack of the Killer Tomatoes in terms of sheer comic-bookish hilarity.

The casting works surprisingly well, despite the use of B- and C-list actors. Dick Durock, once again, brings far more class to the role of the Swamp Thing than the writing would seem to allow. And Louis Jordan, while completely unlike the Arcane seen in the comics in every way, is deliciously brilliant in every villainous role he's every played (see Octopussy as an example of a brilliant Jordan performance in an otherwise uninspired movie).

Plus, what's not to love about Heather Locklear? Sure, she's missing Abby's Transylvanian accent from the comic. Sure, she portrays Abby as far more airheaded than she was in the comic. And sure, she's not wearing comic-book Abby's trademark jean cutoffs and read shirt. But this is Heather Locklear, folks, and she more than makes up for it every time she smiles. (Hey, I'm reviewing a corny movie...what better way to do so than to make corny statements?)

Rumors abound that we might someday see a new Swamp Thing film, this time built around the landmark origin story Alan Moore brought to the character. We can only hope. In the meantime, both Swamp Thing films (while hardly high cinema) are still great B-movie fun. Make yourself some popcorn, check 'em both out and be sure to leave your brain in the swamp.

Rich Handley Roots of the Swamp Thing http://www.swampthingroots.com