The Return of Swamp Thing 1989

I remember seeing this for the first time on TV in a Swamp Thing marathon back when I was a kid around 1990 or 1991. I liked the live-action TV series too and remember sitting and drawing the character.
What a terrific film adaptation of a comic book hero! This one is a direct sequel to the first film (the Wes Craven-directed one). There's a very good balance of action, some horror elements, and noticeable a good amount of humor, especially with the two kids and Abby (played by the lovely Heather Locklear). The "knock-knock" part got me cracking. The soundtrack is synonymous as I remember it. Somewhere near the end as Swamp Thing steps in, you see his eyes gleaming through the shadow as he moves; very nice little detail there. The practical effects give it much believable visuals, and I really admire the costume design for Swamp Thing starting from this one and onto the TV series; a definite improvement over the first film. I've always liked Swamp Thing. He's a good man, defeating the bad guy and saving the girl. Now I feel like piping through the TV series if I can find it.

Was that kid for real?

The stench coming off The Return of Swamp Thing is truly rank. When Abby Arcane visits her step-father in an attempt to reconcile, he takes her prisoner and uses her to heal himself; meanwhile Swamp Thing battles Arcane’s failed experiments that are running amuck in the swamp. Louis Jourdan returns and is joined by Heather Locklear, who’s “acting” is godawful (winning a well-earned Razzie). Equally bad though are the creature effects, which are laughable; though that could be the point given that the tragic tone of the first film has been abandoned and it’s now going for camp. A trainwreck from start to finish, The Return of Swamp Thing is a cheap B-movie with no aspirations.

There is absolutely nothing about this movie that implies an attempt was made to create anything other that a goofy follow-up to the original "Swamp Thing". I can defend this though, because Heather Locklear and Dick Durock are so, so likeable as the strange beauty and the beast couple.

When comparing it to the first part from '82 it doesn't look like an amateur production made by accident. However, it is still a B-class movie for fans of the genre.

Oh to be a fly on the wall of the writers room with this absurd flick. This thing is just so over the top ridiculous. Not a single thing serious about it. They took the first film, flipped it on its head, stuffed it with cocaine and ether and let it run wild.

A silly and ridiculous little movie, that's forgiven some of its poor qualities for how firmly it had its tongue in its cheek. For a kids film though, it can be pretty fun at times. A serious take on this character for once would be welcome though...