Genre favourite Wes Craven tackles this adaptation of the cult 70's comic book that has a scientist working on a top secret formula in the middle of the remote Florida swamp being dosed in it by baddie Louis Jourdan's thugs only to come back as a plant-like creature who has to protect sexy co-worker Adrienne Barbeau and eliminate Jourdan (who wants to use the formula for evil) and his cohorts.

Perfectly capturing a comic book feel (with rubber masks and all!) this is a pretty fun horror/sci-fi that's filled with low scale (but pleasing enough) action sequences, lots of hokey effects (especially Jourdan's creature mask that looks like a lion mixed with a bear) and (of course) Barbeau's bathing scene (which is extended on the cut I saw).

Craven collaborator David Hess (from Last House On The Left) is fun as the leader of Jourdan's thugs and there's another strong musical score from Harry Manfredi (of Friday The 13th fame) making this a watchable time despite becoming a bit overly silly in the weak finale.

Followed by Return Of Swamp Thing.

Directed By: Wes Craven.
Written By: Wes Craven.

Starring: Louis Jourdan, Adrienne Barbeau, Ray Wise, David Hess.

Picture Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen.

Picture Quality: For a lower-budgeted early 80's film this looks much cleaner and clearer than expected with only a few "blah" moments.

Extras: The best "extra" here is that MGM accidently released this with the European cut (which means Adrienne Barbeau nudity!) of the film. It has since been recalled though. We also get an amusing trailer.