Dinocroc (2004)

Dinocroc is a 2004 American horror film directed by Kevin O'Neill. The film's plot revolves around a genetically engineered Suchomimus terrorizing the lake-side residents of a small town. The film stars Matthew Borlenghi, Jane Longenecker, Charles Napier, Costas Mandylor, Bruce Weitz, and Joanna Pacuła. The film was produced by b-movie director Roger Corman.

The film received a limited theatrical release in early 2004. before premiering on the Syfy Channel in April of that year. It was followed by two sequels, Supergator and Dinocroc vs. Supergator, as well as a spin-off film, Dinoshark. Upon release, the film received negative reviews from critics and audiences.

It later received a Golden Galaxy award.

Plot
A North African dinosaur, related to the crocodile, is found which could grow up to 50 feet long. Dr. Campbell (Bruce Weitz) uses its DNA to create two hybrids of it with a modern-day crocodile at Paula Kennedy's Genetic Research Co. (Gereco) lab. One creature kills Dr. Campbell's assistant and the other creature before escaping. This information is kept from Sheriff Harper (Napier) by Kennedy, stating the dead creature killed Campbell's assistant. His daughter, county dog catcher Diane Harper, helps her ex-welding artist, Tom Banning, and his 12-year-old brother Michael Banning (Jake Thomas) find their three-legged dog, Lucky, who was lost a few days earlier.

Meanwhile, Kennedy sends a trapper to feed Dinocroc (the animal still being on Gereco Property). The trapper uses Lucky as bait, but Lucky runs away and Dinocroc quickly kills the trapper soon after. Later in the morning Diane and Tom find Lucky running around in the woods and try to catch him, unaware that Dinocroc is lurking nearby, but Dr. Campbell saves them by shooting at it. Kennedy then hires an Australian crocodile hunter, Dick Sydney (Costas Mandylor), to help kill Dinocroc. Later that night, Michael sneaks out to look for Lucky when he witnesses the creature. Dinocroc chases Michael through the forest into a tool shed sitting above water. Dinocroc then gets under the shed and kills Michael from below, leaving only his head.

The next day, not having noticed that Michael has gone, Tom, Diane, Dick and Campbell find that the creature is headed toward the town's lakeside beach. It kills three people, the last one being Campbell. In a press conference after the incident Kennedy lies that Campbell was not part of Gereco. Sheriff Harper then plans to kill the creature with his police force and Diane. While looking for it, they stumble upon Michael's damaged bike and Michael's remains in the shed. Tom, who knows Michael is missing, appears on his motorbike, then speeds away after seeing what is left of his dead brother. After trying to get drunk, Tom cries loudly over his brother and Diane comes to comfort him along with Lucky. Meanwhile, five of Sheriff Harper's officers are killed by Dinocroc.

The next day, Tom, Diane and others devise a plan to trap Dinocroc in a tunnel and gas him to death. Sheriff Harper uses some dogs for bait, which Diane and Tom object to, so Harper has them handcuffed and put in the police car. The two escape and use a blowtorch to release the chained dogs, while the creature chases them. They trap Dinocroc in the tunnel and gas him, seemingly killing it.

While a local news crew is taping Kennedy (who arrived after the creature's death) inside the tunnel, telling the reporter false stories about the events, Dinocroc awakens, it then kills Kennedy and comes after Tom and Diane, who are left after the news crew drives away quickly. After hiding under a truck they hear a train and lure Dinocroc across the tracks. It is rammed by a passing train, followed by Tom stabbing it in the eye with a small pipe as revenge for Michael's death. As the sun rises the next day, Diane and Tom drive away, contemplating leaving for a vacation together. Then the camera pans slowly back as their truck passes and Dinocroc is seen walking weakly across the road, still alive.

Cast

 * Costas Mandylor as Dick Sydney
 * Charles Napier as Sheriff Harper
 * Bruce Weitz as Dr. Campbell
 * Matthew Borlenghi as Tom Banning (as Matt Borlenghi)
 * Jane Longenecker as Diane Harper
 * Max Perlich as Deputy Kerrigan
 * Jake Thomas as Michael Banning
 * Kerri Hemmington as Annie Dexter
 * Price Carson as Edwin Danders
 * Joanna Pacula as Paula Kennedy
 * Jamie Akhavi as Judith

Music
Composer Damon Ebner created background music for the creature, similar to that in Jaws. Every time the creature is near, attacks, or chases a victim, the background music, which was made up of orchestral and choir, accompanies it.

Sequels
After Corman produced Dinocroc in 2004, he proposed a sequel to be named Dinocroc 2. However, Sci-Fi Channel turned down the project after claiming that sequels did not do well for them. In 2007, Corman decided to go ahead with the project, but under the name Supergator. In 2010, Roger Corman produced a third and fourth film, Dinoshark, about a prehistoric shark, and Dinocroc vs. Supergator, which featured the two creatures from Corman's earlier films battling one another. In the film, Dinocroc and Supergator escape from captivity (Dinocroc was possibly recaptured, while they possibly created a clone of Supergator since the original Supergator had died in the previous film). It first aired on Syfy on June 26, 2010, was directed by Jim Wynorski and starred David Carradine and John Callahan.

Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has three reviews, all negative.