Swamp Thing (film)
Swamp Thing is a 1982 film directed by Wes Craven, based on the DC comics character.
Not long ago, in the unexplored reaches of an unmapped swamp, the creative genius of one man collided with another's evil dream and a monster was born. Too powerful to be destroyed, too intelligent to be captured, this thing still pursues its savage dream. —Opening text
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The film centers around Dr. Alec Holland, who studying a formula that could possibly grow plants anywhere, and Alice Cable, a Washington agent who is sent to look after the research in the middle of a swamp. During an attack on the facility orchesrated by Anton Arcane, who seeks the formula for himself, Holland is dosed with his bio-restorative formula and is turned into the eponymous being. Now Alec must protect Alice as Arcane's men hunt them.
In 1989 it was followed by a campy sequel The Return of Swamp Thing.
- Action Girl: Alice.
- Alliterative Name: Anton Arcane.
- Always with You: Swamp Thing's parting words to Alice in the end.
- An Arm and a Leg: Ferret manages cut off Swamp Thing's hand with a machete.
- Between My Legs: Shown when Swamp Thing creeps up on Bruno.
- Big Fancy House: Arcane's mansion.
- Car Fu: Ferret and the other mooks attempt to run Swamp Thing down with their Jeep, but are stopped dead on their tracks by his strenght.
- Chekhov's Gun: The small propane tank in the command center.
- Drop What You Are Doing: When Arcane's assistant Karen sees the early stages of his transformation, she drops the tray she's holding.
- Every Car Is a Pinto: Two boats explode when they crash.
- Fanservice Extra: Some of Aracne's visitors in his mansion.
- Groin Attack: Alice knees Ferret to the groin when he tries to pull the moves on her.
- Halfhearted Henchman: Bruno, who shows remorse for his participation in the mooks' misdeeds.
- Healing Hands: Swamp Thing has this power.
- Hired Guns: Arcane's mooks.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Swamp Thing defeats Arcane with his own sword.
- I Like Swords: After he is transformed into a monster, Arcane grabs a sword.
- Idiosyncratic Wipes
- Latex Perfection: Arcane's disguise as Ritter.
- Machete Mayhem: After Alice escapes from Arcane's boat, Ferret swims after her and starts chasing her with a machete.
- Malaproper: Bruno wonders if Swamp Thing is "one of those Abdominal Snowmen".
- Man On Fire: Alec after he is accidentally doused with his mixture.
- Mook Lieutenant: Ferret.
- Murder by Mistake: While searching for Swamp Thing, the mook Tyrone calls out to Ferret and others and is accidentally shot by Danny.
- Not in Kansas Anymore: Said by Alice when she arrives to the swamp.
- One-Winged Angel: Arcane turns into a hideous monster when he tries Holland's mixture himself.
- Outdoor Bath Peeping: Alec peeps on Alice as she bathes.
- Painful Transformation: Bruno's transformation into the pig creature.
- Planimal: Alec's work is based on a combined cell of an animal an a plant.
- The Power of the Sun: Swamp Thing manages to regrow his arm and break his bonds thanks to sunlight.
- Redemption Equals Life: Bruno (mutated into a piglike midget) helps Swamp Thing escape Arcane's dungeon and briefly distracts the mutated Arcane for him, and manages to survive the story, albeit still mutated into a pig-midget.
- Save the Day Turn Away
- Shirtless Scene: Provided by Arcane.
- Signature Style: Harry Manfredini did the score for the film, so don't weirded out if Ferret chasing after Alice machete in hand reminds you of something else.
- Stock Scream: One of the mooks lets out a Wilhelm scream when Swamp Thing throws him off a boat.
- Sword Plant: After defeating Arcane, Swamp Thing plants his sword next to him.
- Tagalong Kid: Jude, the gas station kid.
- Touch of the Monster: Used on the posters and video releases.
- Voice Changeling: Arcane is capable of imitating other people's voices.
- Wicked Cultured: Arcane, who even recites Nietzche to Alec before he is caught on fire.