Frogs (1972)

By this point in his career, Ray Milland was basically coasting off of his former popularity making TV movies and b-movies like FROGS, so it’s really not a surprise they happened to actually get a recognizable name.  Of interest for today’s fans is an early appearance by Sam Elliott as the hunky hero and Joan Van Ark in her motion picture debut.  Milland is a well-to-do wheelchair-sporting crank, who calls in his family to his estate near a Louisiana swamp to celebrate some joint birthdays.  Sam Elliott is a photographer for some environmentalist rag who ends up joining the fun while looking for evidence of pollution in the area.  Soon, the family members start mysteriously disappearing, while the number of giant frogs that surround the house at night increases.

Pond scum or swamp sewage, call it what you want, but anyone who goes into this film without the intention of laughing at how ridiculously bad it is will be in for a grand scale disappointment.   Despite the title, most of the actual attacks come from other forms of animal, including snakes, spiders, and unbelievably, tree moss.  One of the funniest things about FROGS is that, by all indications, the makers actually tried to make a good film.  Needless to say…

Qwipster’s rating: F

MPAA Rated: R for violence and brief language
Running Time: 91 min.

Cast: Sam Elliott, Ray Milland, Joan Van Ark, Adam Roarke, Judy Pace
Director: George McCowan
Screenplay: Robert Hutchison, Robert Blees