You’re going to have a hard time finding this great creature feature title on legitimate digital streaming sites. It’s called Komodo, and I happen to have a copy on DVD. I must have bought it at a rental store bin sale for $3; I can’t remember. It’s good that I did because this little gem has a lot going for it. It’s directed by the effects coordinator of Jurassic Park, Michael Lantieri, with a crew of other effects wizards both in practical and digital. It was also written by Hans Bauer, who co-penned the camp classic Anaconda. But is it any good? Actually, only slightly.
Here’s how the story goes: “The Connally family heads out to their holiday home on an island off the South Carolina coast. While there, something in the fields attacks and kills the parents and the young son Patrick’s dog. Several years later. The bodies of the parents have never been found, and Patrick has retreated inside himself, no longer speaking. Psychologist Victoria Juno thinks it might bring Patrick out of himself if she returned to the island with him. Once on the island, they are attacked by komodo lizards grown to the size of large animals. At the same time, the biologist Oates arrives on the island at the behest of the Pontiff oil company, who have a plant there and want the komodos eliminated. As the group is forced together to fight off the attacking komodos, the company gives Oates orders to eliminate all witnesses.
Originally meant to be a worldwide release, this Australian-produced film never went beyond its Aussie cineplex and was instead sent to the world via straight-to-DVD back in 1999.
Presumably trying to piggyback on the success of Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, Komodo uses digital effects blended with practical creatures to make its magic. Twenty-six years ago, CGI tried really hard to appear fluid on screen, perhaps more than it does today. Komodo tries to get it right, but despite a large crew of digital creators, it’s only halfway there; still impressive; what is on screen is commendable; better than some of the big-budget slop generated for today’s standards.
It follows a boy named Patrick who watched his parents (and dog) get killed by giant lizards while on an island. Later, his psychiatrist suggests that Patrick, suffering from PTSD, revisit the island for a little bit of exposure therapy. It works! End of movie! Actually, no. You know how this one goes. The large lizards terrorize Patrick, his shrink, and some red shirts for a rousing survival film that never gets past its B-level feel. It’s Anaconda-level storytelling for sure and, like that movie, a passable diversion for nature-run-amok enthusiasts.
This film is shot so darkly, and most of the action takes place at night, so you have to let your eyes adjust to get used to the low lighting to see the effects, which, again, although patchy, are better than most seen today. This film could use a remaster to fully appreciate its intent. If you’re interested based on what you have read so far, you might want to check out your local thrift store for a used copy because it’s not available on streaming anywhere. According to JustWatch, you can only buy the original DVD, new, on Amazon.
Komodo is a fun time, and even though it suffers from impostor syndrome, it’s got some good scenes and moves fast enough that you won’t be bored.
Take a look at the trailer below and see if this B-movie from A-list filmmakers is worth your time.
