Suffering from the usual pitfalls of low budget filmmaking, Loch Ness Terror is a surprisingly solid creature feature. While the direction is mundane and effects range from superb to downright abysmal, there’s enough here to recommend to creature-feature fanatics. This is a fun one.

You immediately know to give up all logic when you’re supposed to accept that the Loch Ness Monster managed to travel from, of course, Loch Ness, all the way to Lake Superior via a series of tunnels. Why not just set the movie in Scotland and get it over with instead of providing such an inane concept? Regardless, it’s up to Brian Krause who hams it up to save the small unknown town from the critter that’s munchin’ on the locals.

Every cliché the low budget monster movie is known for is here. The creature always manages to avoid heavily populated areas, or even the heart of the tiny town. Dumb teens are most assuredly fodder, the sheriff won’t believe anything until countless lives have been lost, and they should always listen to the crazy old man… but they don’t.

Loch Ness Terror is bold for being on a budget, handling most of its effect shots during the day. It’s a shame, because the one nighttime attack is incredibly well done and creepy. Day shots can be equally as strong, but an equal number fail miserably. A number of small hand puppets in particular don’t work. The final shot of the monster being finished off is also a downer.

While referred to as a plesiosaur, the creature here is far from it. Its unique and effective design works well, though its unintentionally hilarious walk on land cheapens its massive stature. The body count is high, and each subsequent death manages to end up gorier than the last.

Sadly, the direction is mundane, failing to elicit the necessary danger or tension. Director Paul Ziller has delivered some decent work in the past, including a lost gem of a TV movie, Android Apocalypse. This isn’t his best work. Likewise, the script is by the numbers, and the characters forgettable, even with above average performances by the cast. It’s a solid effort even if it ends up being overly average.