Pretty good

It was also interesting to see an older horror movie like this where the lead female character is intelligent, resourceful and self-willed. Usually it's the more traditional "damsel in distress" in these kind of movies.

When at first she shrieked at the sight of the alligator in the distance, I sarcastically remarked to myself "Thanks for screaming instead of warning them." I had to eat those words moments later when she not only came up with the strategy to defeat the alligator, but voluntarily placed herself on the line in order to make it work.

Much like Mighty Joe Young (also directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack), I went into the film with relatively low expectations and was pleasantly surprised by it. Dekker did a good job as Dr. Cyclops, the special effects still hold up pretty well today, the film made good use of its plot, and the sequences involving action and suspense were well-handled too.