The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

The Water Horse, despite its terrible marketing and more than one idea taken from E.T., overcomes your expectations. Why? Because it depends on the story, not the slick editing or flashy special effects. In fact, I’d even go as far as to say it was a minor modern family classic.

I have never believed in the Loch Ness monster, but the special effects are so convincing and well-made that for a minute, I could almost believe. It takes a tough try to accomplish that. Alex Etel, as the young boy who befriends the water horse, mostly interacts with a CGI monster, and pulls it off.

Angus is a young boy living in war-time Scotland, in a large manor. His sister disconnected, his mother constantly diverted, his father at war, he is a very lonely boy. So when he finds an egg on the Loch Ness shore, what pops out of an egg than a small puppy-like “water-horse”, whom he names Crusoe. Crusoe and Angus strike up an odd friendship, but Crusoe is kept a secret except for his sister and the housekeeper. Crusoe begins growing very fast, and soon he is so big Angus must put him in the Loch Ness. Thus, the Loch Ness Monster is born. But the British Army is taking refuge in Angus’ home, and soon Crusoe gains notoriety nearby, and the Army takes note. Can Angus protect Crusoe from the army?

The movie’s way of explaining that dated, fake photograph of the Loch Ness Monster is actually a wooden boat, while Crusoe swims about 100 feet away in plain sight. It’s cleverness and just sweetness is very unexpected, and despite its initial sadness, it has some really funny gags.

Its purity and trueness won me over. A-