‘Frogs’ (1972) (B-Movie Review) — Part Two
Back with more of this weird movie’s review.
You may recall we started/ended up here:
Meanwhile, Pickett (wondering, no doubt, what the hell he stumbled into) tries to place a phone call, only to discover the line is dead.
And, unfortunately, that’s not the only dead thing to turn up during the excruciating remainder of this 90-minute movie.
And now … Part Two!
Because Pickett later (whilst taking a casual stroll through the swampland) finds a dead body. See Jason (with his usual complete disregard for human decency) had sent the guy (named Grover, not that it matters, because you really don’t get much chance to know him) out to get rid of the rumored man-eating frogs. Without protective clothing. Oh, the idiocy/humanity.
Oddly, when Pickett discovers Grover’s rotting carcass, it appears to be covered with snake bites. Okay, we’ve got (rumored) man-eating frogs (which, at this point, are nowhere in evidence) and deadly snakes. What a great place to celebrate a birthday!
But this is only the beginning of the series of unfortunate events that unfold as the movie proceeds through its paces.
The next day, one of the clan (or a guest of a family member, since I’m not at all sure that everyone at this shindig is a Crockett) goes off to check on a downed power line. I’m not sure what he could have done to fix it, but he goes out to check on it. He can’t call it in to anyone, since the phone’s still out and they hadn’t invented cell phones yet.
In any case, while doing this, he somehow shoots himself in the leg. Then, tarantulas descend upon him from the trees. You see, the trees have all this weird white stuff hanging from them. It seems that tarantulas favor it. So, covered with spiders, our next victim inevitably bites the dust. (Or, actually, swallows the swampwater.)
Back at the house, in between Jason’s bellowing for cake and merriment, various other relatives/guests run off into the woods for no really important reason. Either they haven’t heard about the pollution, the dead people, and the overwhelming number of critters encroaching on the house or they’re just stupid/oblivious/suicidal. But Jason’s daughter sends her son to the greenhouse (as if a greenhouse was actually necessary) (the whole damn place is like an outdoor terrarium) to collect flowers for the big bash for Daddy. As he attempts his mission, a horde of geckos appears, swarming toward him and knocking over every damn poisonous chemical in the place, creating a toxic fog that, well, eliminates his role, shall we say.
At this point, Pickett strongly suggests that they really should beat feet off the island. Jason sneer-laughingly dismisses the thought, insisting that everyone put on a happy face.
Like this (with some liberties taken with the actual wording):
PICKETT: Sir, forgive my presumption, but shouldn’t we, uh, take the hint and … get the hell outta here?
JASON: (sneering) Nonsense, m’boy! Poppycock! A few dead relatives and possible guests ain’t gonna ruin my day! Party poopers! Useless, I tell you. Now, goddammit, where’s my cake?
I forgot to mention there are occasional inserts of frogs jumping, gathering, croaking … But they’re scattered about and brief, and the frogs manage to keep their distance from the mansion. For a while.
So, with so few deaths by so-called man-eating frogs, what’s the deal with them? Why call the movie Frogs, anyway?
I think it has to do with their sensitivity to environmental problems. And their role in the film will be made clear. Later.
