The Crater Lake Monster (Sci-Fi/Horror, 1977)

"The Crater Lake Monster" is a 1977 B-movie that blends elements of horror, science fiction, and adventure, with a dash of unintentional comedy due to its low-budget production and quirky execution. Released by Crown International Pictures, it’s a classic example of a 1970s creature feature, drawing inspiration from monster movies of the 1950s and films like "Jaws" (1975), though with far less polish and a more campy charm.
The film falls primarily into the horror and science fiction genres, with a focus on a prehistoric monster terrorizing a small town. It also incorporates adventure through its investigation plotline and moments of awkward comedy, particularly from its supporting characters. It’s often categorized as a "monster movie" in the tradition of low-budget exploitation cinema.
Plot
The story begins with a meteor crashing into Crater Lake in Northern California (not Oregon’s famous Crater Lake, despite the title; it was actually filmed at Huntington Lake, California). The heat from the meteor incubates a dormant dinosaur egg at the bottom of the lake, hatching a giant plesiosaur—a creature resembling the Loch Ness Monster. Six months later, the fully grown beast begins attacking locals, feasting on fishermen, tourists, and livestock near the lake.
Sheriff Steve Hanson (Richard Cardella) investigates the mysterious disappearances and gruesome discoveries, like severed heads and pools of blood, alongside a team of scientists, including paleontologist Dr. Richard Calkins (Bob Hyman). The scientists uncover cave paintings suggesting the creature’s ancient presence, adding a thin layer of lore. Meanwhile, two bumbling boat-rental operators, Arnie (Glen Roberts) and Mitch (Mark Siegel), provide comic relief with their Laurel-and-Hardy-esque antics, such as arguing over how to spell "bait."
A bizarre subplot involves a liquor store robber (unrelated to the lake events) who kills two people, flees to the area, and ends up as monster fodder after a chase with the sheriff—an odd detour that feels tacked on. The climax pits the sheriff against the plesiosaur in a showdown where he uses a bulldozer to battle the beast, partially decapitating it in a memorably absurd scene reminiscent of "Dinosaurus!" (1960).
The plot is riddled with inconsistencies—day turns to night and back again within scenes—and suffers from sluggish pacing and irrelevant tangents, but its earnestness and monster action give it a peculiar charm.
Fun Facts
Stop-Motion Roots: The film marks an early credit for stop-motion legend David Allen as "stop-motion supervisor." Allen, later known for his work with Charles Band on films like "Puppet Master," collaborated with animators like Phil Tippett and Randy Cook (who went on to work on "Star Wars" and "Lord of the Rings"). The stop-motion plesiosaur is a highlight, though a less impressive full-size prop head—described by some as resembling a "rubber turd"—appears in water scenes.

Budget Woes: With a reported budget of just $100,000, Crown International Pictures pulled funding for key scenes and post-production, leading to continuity errors like un-tinted day-for-night shots and a canned, mismatched score.

Location Lie: Despite the title, it wasn’t filmed at Oregon’s Crater Lake but at Huntington Lake, 557 miles away in California, due to cost and logistics.

Car Trivia: The car driven off a cliff by the robber is a 1965-66 AMC Marlin, a rare model produced only from 1965 to 1967.

Recycled Prop: The monster’s full-size head later popped up in Mel Brooks’ "History of the World, Part I" (1981) without the knowledge of its creator, makeup artist Steve Neill.

Cast
Richard Cardella as Sheriff Steve Hanson: Cardella, who also co-wrote the screenplay, plays the earnest but not-too-bright sheriff. He had a minor career in low-budget films.

Glen Roberts as Arnie Chabot: One half of the comic duo, Roberts delivers a redneck boatman with gusto, though the humor often falls flat.

Mark Siegel as Mitch Kowalski: Arnie’s partner in the boat-rental business, Siegel’s performance leans heavily on bickering and slapstick.

Bob Hyman as Dr. Richard Calkins: The paleontologist who ties the monster to ancient cave art, Hyman’s role is one of the few played straight.

Supporting roles include Kacey Cobb as Susan Patterson and Richard Garrison as Dan Turner, the scientists assisting Calkins, though the cast is largely unknown and amateurish, adding to the film’s DIY vibe.