Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Micah Lloyd Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

Kodie Bird True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

George Taylor Jim Wynorski is a hack. No one can deny this. He's talentless for the most part, but must work cheap since he makes crap like this. Gila! with it's horrible effects (the CGI makes the original, which used a real Gila Monster, look good). Barely competent acting (it was nice to see Night of the Comets Kelli Maroney), and lets just get the shot directing, help make this the crapfest it is. How can anyone make a remake of a film that was already bad and make it worse? I give you Exhibit A.

Julian R. White I'm going to agree with what another user said and say, yes! The original was a million times better. When I first picked up this film, I didn't even know it was a remake, I thought it was one of those Syfy originals, but no, even though it's virtually just as bad. They were on the right track with the creature design, but some of it, especially its back end, get all awkward and weird looking. Also, the truck the guy drives says the company he works for is in Indiana. It doesn't take a herpetologist to know that Gila monsters live in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. Not the north. The acting is horrendous, and it's as if the characters are played by high school students instead of experienced and skilled actors. Along with the inaccurate distribution of Gila monsters, the movie supposedly takes place in the 1950's, which is when the original was made. The only thing making that obvious is the automobiles. The actors dress as if they are from the present time. They could have done a lot more with this movie. I fail to accept that a venomous lizard the size of a house doesn't cause people to look out their windows. It seemed as if no one knew the creature existed, except those who were hunting it. It was a pretty big disappointment, but I feel like it could have been molded into a really good one. Too bad it didn't happen.Also, Gila monsters don't use their tongues to capture prey. Just sayin!

berleecrawford I have to admit I am a person that looks for horrid movies for humorous value and I was not disappointed in this film when I saw the creature right off at the beginning of the movie. But I also enjoy drinking syrup of ipecac on the rocks.This is an incredibly lame re-make of the 1959 film "The Giant Gila Monster". The original directed by Ray Kellogg. The special effects in the original included a real gila monster and miniature sets. This movie includes a CGI gila monster created by "Billy" on his PC in the next door neighbors basement. He is all of 9 years old. What is even more stupefying is that it took not one, not two, not three, but four writers to steal almost the same lines and slightly modify them. The most mysterious aspect of this film is why anyone would take credit for ANYTHING in it! We are all a bunch of plagiarist and are NOT afraid that you know it. The original was mistied on MST3K and is extremely enjoyable and quite memorable. Want to learn what "blocking" is in a movie? This is the example for you. One overwhelming reason to remake this movie was someone had access to vintage cars!It is perplexing that someone thought this movie was worth remaking. If you wish to inflict intense pain upon a person you dislike, force them to view this movie. It could be a life changing event!I do not think I need that ipecac!

Woodyanders A giant gila monster terrorizes a sleepy small town. It's up to local hot rod racer Chase Winstead (a solid and likable performance by Brian Gross) to save the day. Director Jim Wynorski, working from a compact and eventful script by Steve Mitchell, William Dever, Jim Nielsen, and Paul Sinor, relates the entertaining story at a zippy pace, maintains an utterly engaging good-natured tone throughout, stages the monster attack set pieces with flair, and offers an affectionate evocation of the 50's period setting (the vintage cars and the 50's rock soundtrack in particular are both spot-on). Moreover, it's acted with zest by an enthusiastic cast: Terence Knox as the amiable sheriff, Jesse Janzen as surly bad boy Waco Bob, Christina DeRosa as Bob's slinky hussy main squeeze, Madeline Voges as Chase's sweet girlfriend Lisa, the ever-adorable Kelli Maroney as the cute and bubbly Deputy Wilma, Gerad Pauwels as uptight jerk Mayor Wheeler, Julie McCullough as the mayor's bitter booze-sodden wife Vera, and, in a delightfully robust scenery-gnashing turn, Rick Komenich as gung-ho survivalist Compton. Don Sullivan, the star of the '59 original "The Giant Gila Monster," has a nice bit as helpful lizard expert Daws. The titular CGI beast looks pretty cool. Kudos are also in order for Ross Headley's sharp cinematography and the spirited score by Al and Jon Kaplan. An immensely fun flick.