Common Sense Media Review
By Jose Solis
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
'90s killer crocodile horror-comedy with gore and violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lake Placid
What's the Story?
In LAKE PLACID, a giant crocodile terrorizes a lake in Maine, prompting a haphazard team to investigate after a series of deadly attacks. The group includes Sheriff Hank Keough (Brendan Gleeson), warden Jack Wells (Bill Pullman), paleontologist Kelly Scott (Bridget Fonda) from New York's Museum of Natural History, and eccentric crocodile expert Hector Cyr (Oliver Platt), who arrives in a helicopter painted to replicate reptilian scales. Together, they attempt to track and capture the creature while learning about its mysterious origins and its connection to a local woman, Mrs. Bickerman (Betty White). As danger escalates, they must work together to stop the crocodile before more lives are lost.
Is It Any Good?
Originally dismissed when it was released, this killer croc film has grown into a strange B movie gem from the legendary year of 1999. Clocking in at under 90 minutes, Lake Placid is a quick, often hilarious watch that leaves you wondering if it's a bad monster movie or a clever send-up of bad monster movies. Written by David E. Kelley, the film feels like an offbeat cousin to his work on Ally McBeal, with sharp jokes about men, women, and human nature buried inside the chaos. The cast is wildly overqualified, adding to the film's odd charm: Mariska Hargitay, Brendan Gleeson, Bridget Fonda, Oliver Platt, and yes, Betty White long before her late-career renaissance.
But the real star here is Stan Winston's giant crocodile, crafted in the pre-excessive CGI era where movie monsters had presence and, strangely, personality. Winston, the mastermind behind Aliens and Jurassic Park, gives this croc moments of eerie grace, even a flicker of soul. At one point, the characters debate whether the beast deserves to live, and for a second, looking at its expressive eyes, you might actually agree. From its tongue-in-cheek PETA jokes to its killer choice of an ending credits song, Lake Placid is silly fun, ideal for teens and adults who enjoy creature features that don't take themselves too seriously.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why some of the characters wanted to save the crocodile instead of killing it. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Did the combination of humor and horror work for you? Did the jokes make the scary scenes more tolerable? Why, or why not?
How did Kelly show courage by standing up to the men who belittled her and her work?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 16, 1999
- On DVD or streaming : December 14, 2004
- Cast : Bill Pullman , Bridget Fonda , Oliver Platt , Betty White , Brendan Gleeson
- Director : Steve Miner
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : 20th Century Fox
- Genre : Horror
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 82 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violent creature attacks and related gore, and for language
- Last updated : July 29, 2025
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