Lake Placid (1999) is a horror-comedy film directed by Steve Miner and written by David E. Kelly. The movie revolves around a giant, man-eating crocodile terrorizing a small town in Maine, leading to a series of suspenseful and often humorous events. With its mix of horror, dark comedy, and quirky characters, Lake Placid has gained a cult following over the years, becoming a memorable creature feature from the late 1990s.

The story is set in the peaceful, remote town of Lake Placid, where a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances occur around the lake. The authorities quickly realize that a gigantic crocodile, likely released into the lake illegally, is responsible for these incidents. The creature is unusually large, dangerous, and intelligent, capable of hunting down its prey both in the water and on land.

The film follows a group of unlikely characters who come together to deal with the threat posed by the crocodile. These include:

Jack Wells (Bill Pullman), a local game warden who is called to investigate the deaths.

Helen “Hank” MacDonald (Bridget Fonda), a paleontologist who is brought in to examine the crocodile’s origins.

Sheriff Hank Keough (Brendan Gleeson), a tough but sometimes bumbling sheriff who is tasked with coordinating the local response to the threat.

Cesar (Oliver Platt), a millionaire wildlife expert with an eccentric personality who insists on capturing the crocodile alive.