In 1999, a movie was released to theaters that never should’ve existed. The film was Lake Placid. The more you know about who is in this movie and who’s behind it, the more absurd it becomes. And yes, a movie about a giant crocodile in Maine is already pretty absurd. We get that. But this is a horror movie written by the same guy who created Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Legal, and more recently, The Lincoln Lawyer. Welcome to the mind of David E. Kelley.
David E. Kelley – From Picket Fences to Lake Placid
This is one of the big reasons why Lake Placid is what it is. Critics picked it apart for its mixed tone and lack of effectiveness as a satire. They didn’t really understand it. Anyone who has watched David E. Kelley programs knows that the man specializes in tonal whiplash. All of his works will bounce between drama and comedy in extreme ways. That’s part of what makes his projects what they are. He worked in the legal profession before becoming a screenwriter. Lake Placid is what happens when you let a lawyer with a penchant for the ludicrous write a horror movie. One about a giant crocodile, at that.
The premise of the movie is pretty simple. Evidence of a giant reptile has emerged from the death of a diver in Maine. Kelly Scott, played by Bridget Fonda, is a paleontologist sent to investigate. She teams up with a Fish and Wildlife Officer played by Bill Pullman. They’re also accompanied by a local sheriff played by Brendan Gleeson and later a crazy crocodile enthusiast played by Oliver Platt. This motley crew of people very quickly gets over their heads. Oh, and they also meet Betty White.
The Usual Suspects – Now on the Lake
White plays a little old lady named Mrs. Delores Bickerman who steals every scene she’s in. This is a Kelley trademark of sorts. White would also appear in The Practice and Boston Legal in a similar capacity. That is, playing a crazy old woman. There’s also a line about hitting someone in the head with a skillet. That is 100% a Kelley storyline from Boston Legal. The man is nothing if not consistent. Betty also gets what might be one of the greatest insults in film history. We won’t repeat it here because you need to hear it from her to really appreciate it.
It’s not really a scary film, but director Steve Miner is not really just a horror director. Yes, he did Friday the 13th Part 2 and Part III, but he also did House. That movie is a piece of beautiful insanity that is more about laughs than horror. Fittingly enough, Miner would later go on to direct episodes of Chicago Hope and The Practice, two programs Kelley created. That’s why this movie doesn’t really deliver fully as a horror movie, because it’s not meant to be really horrific. It’s not meant to be satire either. It’s meant to be exactly what it is. We’ve got a wacky movie with a zany cast of characters. And they fight a giant crocodile.
A Movie That is What it is
There’s no bigger environmental message. There’s no commentary about social issues. You just get a bunch of comical sexual tension between Platt and Gleeson. There’s more there than between Pullman and Fonda. Not sure if that’s intentional or not, but it’s fun to watch. Oh, and then there’s Betty White, of course.
Lake Placid is just a hell of a lot of fun. It’s gory in places, but that’s about the only scary element of things. So for the most part, mature audiences can dive right in and have a great time with the crocs. Besides, what other horror movies are you going to find that were written by a former lawyer?
