Lake Placid MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -2 1/2

There's nothing placid about this New England lake. Soon after a sheriff's deputy takes a professional diver to investigate rumors of a monster sighting in the lake, the deputy is pulling the diver into the boat minus the lower half of his torso. Kelly Scott (Bridget Fonda), a New York anthropologist, and biologist Hector Cyr (Oliver Platt), an expert on crocodiles, join game warden Jack Wells (Bill Pullman) and an assortment of law enforcement officers investigating the horrific incident. Hector quickly surmises that the monster must be a man-eating crocodile which has migrated from China. Further searching leads to an eccentric widow (Betty White), the only resident on the lake. They discover her feeding the crocodile by blindfolding a cow and leading it to the lake. The quirky characters and bizarre plot mix horror with humor, producing a suspenseful, tongue-in-cheek drama. David E. Kelly, creator of such TV hits as The Practice and Ally McBeal, wrote the script of LAKE PLACID. It's scary enough to make dates hold on to each other and funny enough to take the edge off.

Gruesome evidence of the crocodile's attacks includes the upper torso of the first diver, a human toe covered with maggots found on the shore, an animal's head, and a mans head. When least expected, the monster capsizes a canoe and attacks a bear on shore. Hector fights to save the crocodile, believing it is holy and even prays to it. Hoping to lure the creature inland, he also instigates a party, among the investigators camping near the lake, with loud music and drinking. LAKE PLACID has no sex or nudity, but several sexually suggestive remarks and insults fly between Hector and a deputy. Some imply that Hector is homosexual. Shocking filthy language comes from the "sweet" little widow, apparently just for laughs. The film's obscenities include 14 f and s words, and nine regular profanities. The gory violence, along with many obscenities and profanities, will offend discerning viewers.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035