Two things I've always been told as a filmmaker is not to kill children or animals. In the first ten minutes of Humanoids from the Deep, they've killed a young boy and several dogs. Let's get this party started!

The excellent DVD of this movie, part of the Roger Corman Classics series is the best the movie has ever looked. And for a low budget, grade-B monster movie, that's pretty damned good. The movie is set in a fishing village where strange things begin to happen just as a big corporation has begun doing experiments to grow bigger fish. Is it just a coincidence? I think not! Well, most of the white fishermen are pro-corporation while the lone Native American(I'm assuming there's a whole tribe somewhere but he's the only one who ventures into town)is most certainly against it. If you've ever watched a horror movie, you know which side is "right" and which is only going to lead to carnage. But really, plotting isn't the movie's strong suit anyway.

What is Humanoids from the Deep's strong suit, you might ask? Well, for one this is a Roger Corman monster movie and while not nearly as entertaining as, say, Piranha, it's still a somewhat fun, cheesy romp. The gore is exceptionally well-done for the most part(you've got to see the kid with half his face bit off - that kicks ass)and while the monsters aren't overly realistic-looking, I have a definite soft spot for the old "guy in a rubber suit" monster. I'll take rubber suit guy over CGI(no matter how well done)any day of the week. Also, being a Roger Corman movie lots of things do blow up(a boat, a shack and a car - all within the first 45 minutes). The movie also has some great nudity featuring women before the age of breast implants. The gal who goes buck naked for a guy and his little friend (I was talking about his ventriloquist's dummy - get your mind out of the gutter!) is quite possibly the hottest woman I've ever seen nude in a horror movie. Seeing a nubile young woman get her top ripped off my a seaweed covered monster who only wants to procreate almost brought a tear to my eye. Oh, how I long for the days of yore.

I know it seems like all I've talked about in this review is nudity but, it's just such great nudity is really does deserve top billing. The actors all hold their own even if they go over the top from time to time. And really, isn't half the fun of watching a B horror movie the over-acting? The killings are evenly spread out which helps keep the pace nice and brisk. It bogs down in a few sports(mostly during the search for the monsters half-way in)but another death is never too far off. The ending at the fair/carnival is 15 minutes gory fun and makes this an absolute must see. I've heard that the recent remake of this flick removes all the nudity and most of the gore. That begs the question, "Why in the hell did they bother?"