By Elliot Lines - March 25, 2025
Creature features have been a staple of Hollywood for many years. With classics like Jaws and sci-fi horrors like Alien, the genre knows no limits. When it comes to more grounded versions of these stories, one animal appears just as often as sharks—the alligator (or crocodile). Gator Creek embraces the Cocaine Bear mould and throws its characters into a swamp full of meth-induced alligators. The film doesn't hold back on its gory kills and delivers exactly what you’d expect from a creature feature like this.
When a group of friends looking to let go of the past find themselves in a plane crash in the middle of nowhere, they—along with the other passengers—are hunted down by local alligators who, due to a botched drug bust, have become intoxicated by meth.
Over the years, many creature features have focused on alligators, with the likes of Crawl, Rogue, and Rampage coming to mind. While Gator Creek isn’t a standout among them, it is an entertaining addition to the genre. Putting the story aside, just watching this group of strangers attempt to navigate their way through the swamp while being hunted makes for an engaging watch. The kills are brutal and creative, coming at a regular pace, which keeps the film moving once this group get stranded in the swamp.
As for the overall story, it feels like a loose attempt to justify why these characters find themselves in such a situation, the main reason being the group traveling to scatter the ashes of Jamie, Kyle's (Athena Strates) brother and the rest of the groups friend. Their decision to take the cheaper option—a risky flight instead of a road trip—ultimately leads to their crash. Once in the swamp, they must switch to survival mode, and while the protagonist's brother’s death is brought up now and then to add tension, it doesn’t play a significant role beyond that, other than maybe some emotional round off at the end.
The acting across the board is pretty standard for a feature like this, but the standout is undoubtedly Athena Strates. Her performance carries the film, evolving from someone quiet and reserved to a confident leader guiding the group through the swamp’s dangers. As for the rest of the cast, there’s the shady pilot, the “mean girl” (which, honestly, feels like an understatement), the best friend, and a handful of other passengers—all of whom serve their purpose, particularly as alligator fodder.
I can't say I expected much going into Gator Creek, but I came out satisfied. A film like this doesn’t need strong storytelling or great acting—it’s not trying to be Jaws or Alien. What Gator Creek does offer is 90 minutes of snappy kills, and allows you shut off your brain and enjoy the ride.
Out now on digital platforms
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