Lake Michigan Monster: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{good article}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Lake Michigan Monster
| image = Lake_Michigan_Monster,_2018,_release_poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Official release poster
| director = Ryland Brickson Cole Tews
| writer = Ryland Brickson Cole Tews<br>Mike Cheslik
| producer = Mike Cheslik<br>Sebastian Johnson<br>Ryland Brickson Cole Tews
| starring = Ryland Brickson Cole Tews<br>Erick West<br>Beulah Peters<br>Daniel Long<br>Wayne Tews
| cinematography =
| editing = Mike Cheslik
| music = Chris Hoelter<br>Chris Ryan<br>[[De Wolfe Music]]
| studio = Blood Sweat Honey
| distributor = [[Arrow Films]]
| released = {{Film date|2018|10|24|Milwaukee Film Festival|}}<ref name="Mueller 2018a"/>{{cite<ref web|lastname=Mueller|first=Matt|title=Here's your complete"Jannene 2018 Milwaukee Film Festival schedule|url=https:"//onmilwaukee.com/articles/milwaukee-film-festival-guide-2018|website=[[OnMilwaukee]].com|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=October 24, 2018}}</ref>}}
| runtime = 78 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $7,000 (estimated)<ref name="Sorrento 2020"/><ref name="McNeely 2021"/>
| budget = $7,000 (estimated)<ref name="Sorrento 2020">{{cite web|last=Sorrento|first=Matthew|title=Guy Maddin Meets SpongeBob: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews' Lake Michigan Monster (Arrow Video)|url=https://filmint.nu/ryland-brickson-cole-tews-lake-michigan-monster-review-thomas-puhr/|publisher=[[Film International]]|access-date=April 7, 2023|date=December 31, 2020}}</ref><ref name="McNeely 2021">{{cite web|last=McNeely|first=Kelly|title=Make 'Em Laugh: 10 Hilarious Horror Parodies Made on a Microbudget|url=https://ihorror.com/10-hilarious-horror-parodies/|website=iHorror.com|access-date=February 16, 2024|date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>
| gross =
}}
'''''Lake Michigan Monster''''' is a 2018 [[black-and-white]] American [[adventure comedy film|adventure]] [[Comedy horror|comedy horror film]] written, produced, and directed by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, starring Tews, Erick West, Beulah Peters, Daniel Long, and Wayne Tews. It centers on an eccentric [[Alcoholism|alcoholic]] who assembles a team to track down and kill the title monster out of revenge for the death of his father.
The ''Lake Michigan Monster'' was developed by Tews and Mike Cheslik after a conversation Tews had with a close friend on the possibility of what would happen if a monster washed up on the shores of [[Lake Michigan]]. The film was influenced by British comedy group [[Monty Python]] and the earlier episodes of the television series ''[[The Simpsons]]'', with additional inspiration gathered from the films of [[Guy Maddin]], specifically ''[[Brand Upon the Brain]]''. ''The ''Lake Michigan Monster''{{'}}s visual style was developed to fit its low[[Low-budget film|low-budget]] and comedic style, as the only camera available developed only low-resolution footage. Filming began mostly around [[Milwaukee]] and [[Muskegon, Michigan]], over sixteen months.
It premiered at the [[Milwaukee Film Festival]] on October 24, 2018, and was later screened extensively at various film festivals in 2019, including the [[Beloit International Film Festival]], and [[Fantasia International Film Festival]]. Video distribution company [[Arrow Films]] later purchased distribution rights to the film, releasing it via the company's channel and [[video on demand]] on August 3, 2020, before releasing it on [[Blu-ray]] in the United Kingdom on November 2. In addition to garnering multiple awards and nominations, it was generally praised for its [[Homage (arts)|homage]] to 1960s [[B movie]]s, humor, and use of practical and visual effects.
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During Sean's funeral, Dick is angered after discovering the monster's offspring was his [[Hybrid beasts in folklore|unborn son]] and leaves the team. Back at base, Seafield tells Nedge the truth. He is neither a captain nor rich as he previously claimed. Upset, Nedge leaves him. At night, Ashcroft tells Seafield that he is cursed for killing the monster's child and for Sean's death; the only way to break the curse, he warns, is to kill the monster. Seafield attempts to reenlist Dick and Nedge, but they deny his offer. Seafield then encounters Sean's [[ghost]], who pursues him to a boat headed for Lighthouse Island. During this time, Ashcroft is attacked and killed by the monster on Lighthouse Island.
Back on the boat, Seafield realizes the boat is heading backwards. He attempts to get it back on course, but the boat starts to malfunction. He fixes it and heads to Lighthouse Island. En route, he finds Ashcroft's severed head, who tells him the reason they didn't have a mother was because their father killed her. Arriving at the museum, Seafield heads down into the [[catacombs]] and finds his father's ghost army. He asks them for help in killing the monster, which they accept. However, the monster proves to be too powerful and defeats them, telling Seafield to fight it himself. Heading towards the entrance to the monster's lair, he again encounters Sean's ghost, who attacks him. Finding the sword that Dick lost during one of their failed attempts, he slices Sean in half, but Sean [[regenerateRegeneration (biology)|regenerates]]s and continues pursuing him. He successfully avoids Sean and enters the monster's lair.
In the lair, Seafield encounters the monster, a female [[reptilian humanoid|semi-humanoid creature]], and attacks her. After a brief skirmish, the monster reveals that she and Seafield are siblings. Their father, a drunk, never knew their mother's true nature until one day when their father arrived at a [[Milwaukee]] [[liquor store]] five minutes after closing. Sobering up, he was horrified by their mother's true form and killed her. Once the monster came of "killing age," she avenged her mother by killing him. The monster admits that she wanted to put their violence behind them, impregnating a nearby naked man (Dick), as a peace offering to Seafield, but he rejected it by destroying the egg.
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==Production==
===Development===
[[File:John William Waterhouse A Mermaid.jpg|150px|thumb|right|alt=An oil painting of a mermaid brushing her hair|The original concept was based on the idea of a [[mermaid]] being washed ashore in Lake Michigan, it was later changed into a [[lake monster]]]]
''Lake Michigan Monster'' was written, produced, and directed by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, with development for the film beginning sometime in 2018. Inspiration for the film came about after a conversation between Tews and his close friend Erick West. Tews, who was in the process of moving to Los Angeles at the time, was visiting Lake Michigan with West where the two jokingly struck up a conversation on what would happen if they were to witness a [[mermaid]] washing up on the shore of the lake. Believing the concept was a great idea for a potential feature film, Tews began developing the film's screenplay shortly afterward, marking Tews' [[Directorial Debut|feature film debut]].<ref name="Mueller 2018b">{{cite web|last=Mueller|first=Matt|title=The MKE-made "Lake Michigan Monster" makes landfall at the film festival|url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/lake-michigan-monster-interview|website=OnMilwaukee|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=October 24, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Dahl 2020a">{{cite web|last=Dahl|first=Dakota|title=Exclusive Interview: We Do A Deep Dive With "Lake Michigan Monster"s Ryland Tews|url=https://rue-morgue.com/exclusive-interview-we-do-a-deep-dive-with-lake-michigan-monsters-ryland-tews/|publisher=[[Rue Morgue (magazine)|Rue Morgue]]|access-date=April 7, 2023|date=August 11, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Muir 2020">{{cite web|last=Muir|first=Nathaniel|title=The Lake Michigan Monster interview: Ambiguous, wacky, and fun|url=https://aiptcomics.com/2020/08/10/the-lake-michigan-monster-interview-ambiguous-wacky-and-fun/|website=AIPTComics.com|access-date=April 16, 2023|date=August 10, 2020}}</ref> Concluding that the film would be a [[Low-budget film|low-budget production]], Tews developed the film's screenplay with his friend and fellow filmmaker Mike Cheslik around specific locations where he knew he could film, with the intention that he (Tews) also starred in the film. Development of the film's screenplay was influenced by Tews' love of the British comedy group [[Monty Python]] and the earlier episodes of the television series ''[[The Simpsons]]''.<ref name="Mueller 2018b"/><ref name="Vinney 2020">{{cite web|last=Vinney|first=Cynthia|title=Lake Michigan Monster's Ryland Tews On His Trippy Indie (+ An Exclusive Clip)|url=https://www.cbr.com/lake-michigan-monster-ryland-tews-interview/|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=April 7, 2023|date=August 19, 2020}}</ref> Tews also listed additional influences such as the films of [[Guy Maddin]], specifically ''[[Brand Upon the Brain]]'' (2006), and [[Sam Raimi]]'s ''[[Evil Dead II]]'' (1987), for the film's humor and style.<ref name="Dahl 2020a"/><ref name="Klein 2020">{{cite web|last=Klein|first=Paul|title=Ryland Brickson Cole Tews interview: Lake Michigan Monster, difficult dad actors and The Revenant… with Beavers!|url=https://nomajesty.com/ryland-brickson-cole-tews-interview/|website=No Majesty.com|access-date=April 12, 2023|date=September 28, 2020}}</ref> Early on in development, the original idea of a mermaid was changed into that of a [[lake monster]], as they felt it was "more attainable". Tews and co-writer and producer Cheslik also came up with the idea to keep the film at a brisk pace, reasoning that its potential audience would see through the film's limited budget and lose interest. Dialogue and characters were also deliberately structured around friends and family of Tews, whom he had in mind for certain roles. In an interview with ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'', Tews stated, "They more or less play themselves in the movie, and because they're not classically trained actors... I kind of just wrote their characters as who they are in person".<ref name="Vinney 2020"/>
''Lake Michigan Monster'' was written, produced, and directed by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, with development for the film beginning sometime in 2018. Inspiration for the film came about after a conversation between Tews and his close friend Erick West. Tews, who was in the process of moving to Los Angeles at the time, was visiting Lake Michigan with West where the two jokingly struck up a conversation on what would happen if they were to witness a [[mermaid]] washing up on the shore of the lake. Believing the concept was a great idea for a potential feature film, Tews began developing the film's screenplay shortly afterward, marking Tews' [[Directorial Debut|feature film debut]].<ref name="Mueller 2018b"/><ref name="Dahl 2020a"/><ref name="Muir 2020"/> Concluding that the film would be a [[Low-budget film|low-budget production]], Tews developed the film's screenplay with his friend and fellow filmmaker Mike Cheslik,<ref name="Harvey 2024"/> writing sequences around specific locations where he knew he could film, with the intention that he (Tews) also starred in the film. Development of the film's screenplay was influenced by Tews' love of the British comedy group [[Monty Python]] and the earlier episodes of the television series ''[[The Simpsons]]''.<ref name="Mueller 2018b"/><ref name="Rake 2020"/><ref name="Vinney 2020"/><ref name="Monaghan 2019"/> Tews also listed additional influences such as the films of [[Guy Maddin]], specifically ''[[Brand Upon the Brain]]'' (2006), and [[Sam Raimi]]'s ''[[Evil Dead II]]'' (1987), for the film's humor and style.<ref name="Dahl 2020a"/><ref name="Rake 2020"/> Early on in development, the original idea of a mermaid was changed into that of a [[lake monster]], as they felt it was "more attainable". Tews and co-writer and producer Cheslik also came up with the idea to keep the film at a brisk pace, reasoning that its potential audience would see through the film's limited budget and lose interest. Dialogue and characters were also deliberately structured around friends and family of Tews, whom he had in mind for certain roles. In an interview with ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'', Tews stated, "They more or less play themselves in the movie, and because they're not classically trained actors... I kind of just wrote their characters as who they are in person".<ref name="Vinney 2020"/>
===Filming===
[[File:Muskegon Pier Light (8741867908).jpg|thumb|left|alt=A medium shot of the Muskegon Pier Light of Lake Michigan|The shores of [[Lake Michigan]], centered in [[Muskegon, Michigan]], served as one of the film's shooting locations.]]
[[Principal photography]] began in March 2017,<ref name="Allman 2020">{{cite web|last=Allman|first=John|title=Instant cult classic 'Lake Michigan Monster' reinvents genre cinema on a shoestring|url=https://www.cltampa.com/arts/instant-cult-classic-lake-michigan-monster-reinvents-genre-cinema-on-a-shoestring-12289666|publisher=[[Creative Loafing]]|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=August 4, 2020}}</ref> for sixteen months, with shooting locations occurring mostly around Milwaukee and [[Muskegon, Michigan]].<ref name="Vinney 2020"/><ref name="Klein 2020"/> The film was shot using an old [[Digital single-lens reflex camera|DSLR camera]], owned by Tews's girlfriend, actress Beulah Peters, with low-resolution footage,<ref name="Mueller 2018b"/><ref name="Vinney 2020"/><ref name="Rake 2020"/> owing to the decision early on in production to shoot in [[black and white film|black and white]], which Tews later reflected helped the film to stand out among other productions at the time.<ref name="Dahl 2020a"/><ref name="Vinney 2020"/><ref name="Rake 2020"/> A majority of the film's budget, approximately $7,000,<ref name="Vinney 2020"/><ref name="KleinMonaghan 20202019"/><ref name="Monovich 2024"/> was supplied by Tews from his side job as a pizza delivery man.<ref name="Mueller 2018b"/> The film's cast and crew were mostly composed of personal friends of Tews, all of whom worked in multiple roles during production. According to Tews, there was no real [[Cinematographer|director of cinematography]], with both cast and crew members operating the camera during production.<ref name="Vinney 2020"/><ref name="Klein 2020"/> With limited production funds, cast and crew members constantly devised methods of shooting sequences within the film's budget.<ref name="Vinney 2020"/> Underwater sequences proved to be the most difficult to shoot. As Tews stated in an interview with horror magazine ''Rue Morgue'', the camera operators had a limited supply of oxygen and could only shoot for a short amount of time before surfacing for air<ref name="Dahl 2020a"/>
===Special effects===
The film's title monster was designed by veteran special effects artist and director Joe Castro, with additional help from cast member Erick West, who designed the claws.<ref name="Vinney 2020"/> Castro had previously contributed to over fifty productions,<ref name="Murphree 2018">{{cite web|last=Murphree|first=Zach|title=Practical Magic: An Interview with Splatter FX Master Joe Castro|url=https://www.horrorgeeklife.com/2018/11/08/joe-castro-interview/|website=HorrorGeekLife|access-date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322210642/https://www.horrorgeeklife.com/2018/11/08/joe-castro-interview/|archive-date=March 22, 2019|date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> notably, ''[[Evil Toons]]'' (1992), ''[[Campfire Tales (1997 film)|Campfire Tales]]'' (1997), ''[[Night of the Demons 3]]'' (1997), and ''[[The Summer of Massacre]]'' (2012).<ref name="Tilley 2012">{{cite web|last=Tilley|first=Doug|title=No-Budget Nightmares – Interview with The Summer of Massacre Director Joe Castro|url=http://dailygrindhouse.com/thewire/no-budget-nightmares-interview-with-summer-of-the-massacre-director-joe-castro/|website=DailyGrindhouse|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=April 25, 2012}}</ref> Working with Castro, Tews wanted the film's monster to be unique and "something you’d never seen before", also having the design resemble an (unmentioned) member of the film's cast.<ref name="Vinney 2020"/> The resulting design was noted by one critic as resembling the early works of cinematic pioneer [[Georges Méliès]].<ref name="Hermanns 2020">{{cite web|last=Hermanns|first=Grant|title=Lake Michigan Monster Review: A Dizzying & Outrageous Laugh Riot!|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/reviews/1145016-lake-michigan-monster-review-a-dizzying-outrageous-laugh-riot|website=[[ComingSoon.net]]|publisher=Evolve Media Holdings, LLC.|access-date=April 1, 2023|date=August 11, 2020}}</ref> While also serving as the film's editor, Cheslik contributed to the film's [[Computercomputer-generated imagery|digital effects]], working on over 300 effects shots depicted in the film.<ref name="Vinney 2020"/><ref name="Rake 2020"/>
==Release==
''Lake Michigan Monster'' premiered at the [[Milwaukee Film Festival]] on October 24, 2018.<ref name="Mueller 2018a"/><ref name="Jannene 2018"/> The film was screened extensively at various film festivals in 2019, starting on February 2, where it was screened at the [[Beloit International Film Festival]], followed by a Q & A with director Tews.<ref name="BIFF 2019">{{cite web|author=n.a.|title=Lake Michigan Monster – BIFF|url=https://beloitfilmfest.org/films/lake-michigan-monster/|website=BeloitFilmFest.org|publisher=[[Beloit International Film Festival]]|access-date=April 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815224829/https://beloitfilmfest.org/films/lake-michigan-monster/|archive-date=August 15, 2019|date=January 1, 2019}}</ref> On March 9 it was screened at the MidWest WeirdFest, as a part of the first seven films in its official line-up.<ref name="Halen 2019">{{cite web|last=Halen|first=Adrian|title=MidWest WeirdFest 2019 First Programming Wave Announced|url=https://horrornews.net/139440/midwest-weirdfest-2019-first-programming-wave-announced/|website=HorrorNews.net|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=January 26, 2019}}</ref> The 10th Annual Door County Short Film Fest presented a special screening of the film on April 19.<ref>{{cite web|author=n.a.|title=Encore Presentation of Door County Short Film Fest in Ellison Bay on April 19–20|url=https://doorcounty.net/encore-presentation-of-door-county-short-film-fest-in-ellison-bay-on-april-19-20/|website=DoorCounty.net|publishername="Door County Today|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=April 1, 2019}}<"/ref> From April 7 to June 28 it would have screenings at the Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival, and the Vidlings & Tapeheads Film Festival, respectively.<ref name="Milwaukee Twisted Dreams FilmFestMonaghan 2019"/>{{cite<ref web|authorname=n.a.|title=Full Schedule for the 2019 "Milwaukee Twisted Dreams FilmFilmFest Festival|url=http://www.twisteddreamsff.com/films/full-schedule-for-the-2019-milwaukee-twisted-dreams-film-festival|website=TwistedDreamsFF.com|publisher=Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=February 16, 2019}}<"/ref><ref name="Vildings and Tapeheads 2019">{{cite web|author=n.a.|title=VTFF2019 Schedule|url=https://vidlingsandtapeheads.com/vtff2019/|website=VildingsandTapeheads.com|publisher=Vildings & Tapeheads Film Festival|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=March 2, 2019}}</ref> It later had its international premiere on July 25, 2019, at the [[Fantasia International Film Festival]] in Montreal.<ref name="FantasiaFest 2019">{{cite web|author=n.a.|title=Lake Michigan Monster|url=https://2019.fantasiafestival.com/en/film/lake-michigan-monster|website=FantasiaFestival.com|publisher=[[Fantasia International Film Festival]]|access-date=April 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806110946/https://2019.fantasiafestival.com/en/film/lake-michigan-monster|archive-date=August 6, 2021|date=February 25, 2019}}</ref> It was a part of the official selection of films screened at the 6th annual FilmQuest film festival,<ref name="Millican 2019">{{cite web|last=Millican|first=Josh|title=FilmQuest 2019 Announces Full Line Up |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/299333/filmquest-2019-announces-full-line-up/|website=[[Dread Central]]|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=August 27, 2019}}</ref> where it was screened on September 11.<ref name="FilmQuest 2019a">{{cite web|author=n.a.|title=FILMQUEST 2019 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS|url=http://www.filmquestfest.com/2019-official-selections/|publisher=FilmQuest|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=August 27, 2019}}</ref> The [[Bay City, Michigan|Bay City]]-based event known as the [[Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival]] screened the film on September 27,<ref name="French 2019">{{cite web|last=French|first=Caitlyn|title=Your guide to Hell's Half Mile Film and Music Festival 2019|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/g66l-2019/09/a8cffd702a4016/your-guide-to-hells-half-mile-film-and-music-festival-2019.html|website=[[MLive Media Group|MLive.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207181310/https://www.mlive.com/news/g66l-2019/09/a8cffd702a4016/your-guide-to-hells-half-mile-film-and-music-festival-2019.html|archive-date=December 7, 2019|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=September 26, 2019}}</ref> and on SeptemberOctober 29,11 the filmit was showcased at the PhiladelphiaNortheast UnnamedWisconsin Horror Film Festival.<ref name="McGrewNEWHFF 2019">{{cite web|last=McGrew|first=Shannon|title=[News] PUFF Announces 2019 Lineup|url=https://www.nightmarishconjurings.com/2019/08/26/news-puff-announces-2019-lineup/|website=Nightmarish Conjurings|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=August 26, 2019}}</ref>
TheScreenings filmof continuedthe to''Lake beMichigan showcasedMonster'' continued at multiple film festivals for the final half of 2019, most notably the [[Flyway Film Festival]],<ref name="Flyway Film Festival n.d.2023">{{cite web|author=Anon.|title=Film Images 2019 – Flyway Film Festival|url=https://www.flywayfilmfestival.org/film-images-2019/s57d7doqwgp3n8ofr3tbwz7jub12zz|publisher=[[Flyway Film Festival]]|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=n.d.}}</ref> [[Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival]],<ref name="LUFF n.d.2019">{{cite web|author=Anon.|title=Lake Michigan Monster|url=http://2019.luff.ch/en/programme/film/lake-michigan-monster|publisher=[[Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival]]|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=n.d.}}</ref> [[Nightmares Film Festival]],<ref name="Hannon 2019">{{cite web|last=Hannon|first=Melissa|title=Nightmares Film Festival 2019 Unveils Lineup|url=https:2020"//www.horrorgeeklife.com/2019/09/24/nightmares-film-festival-2019-lineup/|website=HorrorGeekLife.com|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> before having its premiere in the United Kingdom at the [[Abertoir: The International Horror Festival of Wales|Abertoir Festival]].<ref name="Abertoir n.d.2023">{{cite web|author=n.a.|title=Lake Michigan Monster|url=http://abertoir.co.uk/archive/2019-festival/films-2019/item/495-lake-michigan-monster|publisher=[[Abertoir]]|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=n.d.}}</ref>
In 2023, the Milwaukee-based [[Lakefront Brewery]] hosted screenings of the film on May 20. This was followed by additional showings at the Avalon Theater from May 21 to May 27, with Tews in attendance for a Q & A. after each screening.<ref name="Wild 2021"/> It was selected for inclusion into the [[56th Sitges Film Festival]], and was screened in the "Sitges Classics" section of the program in October 2023.<ref name="Sitges 2023a"/><ref name="Sitges 2023b"/> In [[Cleveland]], 2024, it was released theatrically for one day by the [[Cleveland Institute of Art]].<ref name="Cleveland Institute of Art 2024"/>
===Home media===
On July 22, 2020, video distribution company [[Arrow Films]] announced that they had acquired distribution rights for the film, with a planned home media release in August of that same year.<ref name="Hurtado 2020">{{cite web|last=Hurtado|first=J.|title=Exclusive Clip: Meet The Team From THE LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER, and Discover the Arrow Video Channel's August Additions|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2020/07/exclusive-clip-meet-the-team-from-the-lake-michigan-monster-and-discover-the-arrow-video-channels-au.html|website=ScreenAnarchy.com|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=July 30, 2020}}</ref> On July 31, the company hosted a 24-hour virtual premiere of the film on the site AltaVOD. The premiere included supplementary interviews from the cast and crew.<ref name="McNelly 2020"/> It was released via the company's channel and [[video on demand]] on August 3,<ref name="MillicanMcNelly 2020"/>{{cite<ref web|lastname="Millican|first=Josh|title=Arrow Video Channel's August Films Include LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER, TENEBRAE & CHILDREN OF THE CORN|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/334198/arrow-video-channels-august-films-include-lake-michigan-monster-tenebrae-children-of-the-corn/|website=[[Dread Central]]|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=July 22, 2020}}<"/ref> and later on [[Blu-ray]] in the United Kingdom on November 23, 2020.<ref name="Blu-rayPrange 20232020">{{cite web|title=Lake Michigan Monster Blu-ray|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Lake-Michigan-Monster-Blu-ray/275719/|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>
==Reception==
''Lake Michigan Monster'' received generally positive reviews from critics. On review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Lake Michigan Monster'' holds an approval rating of 86%, based on 21 reviews, and an average rating of 6.9/10.<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes 2024"/>
{{quote box|align=left|bgcolor=lavender|width=28%|quote="''Lake Michigan Monster'' has all the makings of a beloved [[cult classic]], with a script laced with whip-smart quips that are shot like a quick-draw gunslinger. But as goofy as the film is, it shows a mature understanding of {{emdash}}and passion for {{emdash}} the world of cinema. The camera tricks and moments of visual comedy perfectly capture that maverick spirit of the early days of film. It’s inventive, engaging, and consistently fun."|source=– Kelly McNeely of [[iHorror.com]]<ref name="McNelly 2020">{{cite web|last=McNelly|first=Kelly|title=Review: 'Lake Michigan Monster' is an Inventive, Crowd-Pleasing Delight|url=https://ihorror.com/review-lake-michigan-monster/|website=iHorror.com|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>}}
''Lake Michigan Monster'' received generally positive reviews from critics. On review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Lake Michigan Monster'' holds an approval rating of 86%, based on 21 reviews, and an average rating of 6.9/10.<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes 2024">{{cite web|title=Lake Michigan Monster – Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lake_michigan_monster|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=July 5, 2024}}</ref>
Critics have highlighted the film's homage to [[B movie]]s from the last several decades. Richard Whittaker of ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' praised its humor as a throwback to the 1980s and 1960s low-budget cinema, calling it "a micro-budget, black-and-white whimsical voyage of wonderful waffling".<ref name="Whittaker 2019">{{cite web|last=Whittaker|first=Richard|title=Fantasia Review: Lake Michigan Monster|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2019-08-09/fantasia-review-lake-michigan-monster/|publisher=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|access-date=April 1, 2023|date=August 19, 2023}}</ref> Other critics have similarly highlighted the film's [[Retroactive continuity|retroactive]] style and humor. Referring to the film as "a gloriously weird mash-up of genres and decades that revels in its low-budget strangeness and offbeat humor", Jessica Scott of ''Nightmarish Conjurings'' further highlighted the film for its parody of low-budget monster movies and 1980s action film tropes.<ref name="Scott 2020">{{cite web|last=Scott|first=Jessica|title=[Movie Review] LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER|url=https://www.nightmarishconjurings.com/2020/08/03/movie-review-lake-michigan-monster/|website=Nightmarish Conjurings|access-date=April 1, 2023|date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> Tampa Bay based publication ''[[Creative Loafing]]'' praised the film "an evolution and reinvention of every schlocky black-and-white monster movie from the 1950s that you used to watch on Saturday afternoon TV."<ref name="Allman 2020"/> Rating the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, Drew Tinnin of [[Dread Central]] commented on the film's blend of various classic films, dreamlike quality, and idiotic charm, calling it "a unique blend of 50s sci-fi, superhero team-ups, and seafaring epics".<ref name="Tinnin 2020">{{cite web|last=Tinnin|first=Drew|title=LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER Review – An Absurdist Adventure Tale Told In Glorious Black & White|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/335053/lake-michigan-monster-review-an-absurdist-adventure-tale-told-in-glorious-black-white/|website=[[Dread Central]]|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=August 11, 2020}}</ref> Online publication [[Film Threat]]'s Joshua Speiser referred to it as "[a] love letter to B-grade 1950s monster movies", commending the humor and [[Ed Wood]]-style visual aesthetic.<ref name="Speiser 2020">{{cite web|last=Speiser|first=Joshua|title=Lake Michigan Monster|url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/lake-michigan-monster/|website=[[Film Threat]]|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=July 23, 2020}}</ref>
Critics have highlighted the film's homage to [[B movie]]s from the last several decades. Richard Whittaker of ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' praised its humor as a throwback to the 1980s and 1960s low-budget cinema, calling it "a micro-budget, black-and-white whimsical voyage of wonderful waffling".<ref name="Whittaker 2019"/> Other critics have similarly highlighted the film's [[Retroactive continuity|retroactive]] style and humor. Referring to the film as "a gloriously weird mash-up of genres and decades that revels in its low-budget strangeness and offbeat humor" [[Tampa Bay]]-based publication ''[[Creative Loafing]]'' praised the film "an evolution and reinvention of every schlocky black-and-white monster movie from the 1950s that you used to watch on Saturday afternoon TV."<ref name="Allman 2020"/> Rating the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, Drew Tinnin of [[Dread Central]] commented on the film's blend of various classic films, dreamlike quality, and idiotic charm, calling it "a unique blend of 50s sci-fi, superhero team-ups, and seafaring epics".<ref name="Tinnin 2020"/> Online publication ''[[Film Threat]]''{{'}}s Joshua Speiser referred to it as "[a] love letter to B-grade 1950s monster movies", commending the humor and [[Ed Wood]]-style visual aesthetic.<ref name="Speiser 2020"/>
The film's practical effects were positively reviewed by some critics. Grant Hermanns from [[ComingSoon.net]] commended the film's use of practical effects, praising their ingenuity and uniqueness.<ref name="Hermanns 2020"/> ''[[Rue Morgue (magazine)|Rue Morgue]]'' magazine's Dakota Dahl praised the film's parodying of low-budget monster movies, highlighting its practical effects as "intentionally cheesy" while also being 'technically impressive'.<ref name="Dahl 2020b">{{cite web|last=Dahl|first=Dakota|title=Movie Review: The Deadly And Dreamlike "Lake Michigan Monster" Surfaces At Arrow|url=https://rue-morgue.com/movie-review-the-deadly-and-dreamlike-lake-michigan-monster-surfaces-at-arrow/|website=[[Rue Morgue (magazine)|Rue Morgue]].com|publisher=Marrs Media Inc.|access-date=April 1, 2023|date=August 4, 2020}}</ref> ''Nightmarish Conjurings''{{'}}s Scott felt the effects were well-made, with the monster design, in particular, being "genuinely disturbing".<ref name="Scott 2020"/>
The film's practical and special effects were positively reviewed by some critics. Grant Hermanns from [[ComingSoon.net]] commended the film's use of practical effects, praising their ingenuity and uniqueness.<ref name="Hermanns 2020"/> Matt Wild of the local news website the ''Milwaukee Record'' highlighted the film's effective use of computer generated imagery for the ghost army and dream sequences.<ref name="Wild 2019"/> ''[[Rue Morgue (magazine)|Rue Morgue]]'' magazine's Dakota Dahl praised the film's parodying of low-budget monster movies, highlighting its practical effects as "intentionally cheesy" while also being 'technically impressive'.<ref name="Dahl 2020b"/> Writing on the "campy, B-movie design", [[Boston Hassle]]'s Nick Perry comments that the effects mixed well with the film's weird and humorous elements.<ref name="Perry 2020"/>
The offbeat humor and witty dialogue were reviewed favorably by critics. Tracy Allen of PopHorror compared the film's comedic elements to [[Don Coscarelli]]'s 2012 film adaption of ''[[John Dies at the End (film)|John Dies at the End]]'', while also commending the film for its fast pacing.<ref name="Allen 2019">{{cite web|last=Allen|first=Tracy|title=Fantasia 2019: 'Lake Michigan Monster' (2018) Movie Review|url=https://pophorror.com/fantasia-2019-lake-michigan-monster-2018-movie-review/|website=PopHorror|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=July 28, 2019}}</ref> Scott felt that Tews did an excellent job in bestowing the film with a sense of "bizarro charm", in particular, praising the visual gags and dialogue.<ref name="Scott 2020"/> ''[[ON Magazine|On Yorkshire Magazine]]'' further echoed this sentiment towards the visual gags and dialogue.<ref name="Crow 2020">{{cite web|last=Crow|first=Roger|title=Lake Michigan Monster (2018) – Film Review|url=https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/arts/film-reviews/lake-michigan-monster/|website=On Magazine.co.uk|publisher=On: Yorkshire Magazine|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004055518/https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/arts/film-reviews/lake-michigan-monster/|archive-date=October 4, 2020|date=October 3, 2020}}</ref> ''Gruesome Magazine'' offered similar praise, further noting the comedic elements often switched between what he called "[[Vaudeville|Vaudvillian]] corny to laugh-out-loud hilarious".<ref name="Perry 2019">{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Joeseph|title=Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival Reviews: "The Next Kill" and "The Lake Michigan Monster"|url=https://gruesomemagazine.com/2019/04/08/milwaukee-twisted-dreams-film-festival-reviews-the-next-kill-and-the-lake-michigan-monster/|work=Gruesome Magazine|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=April 8, 2019}}</ref> [[MovieWeb]]'s Michael Gursky summarized the film by writing, "Littered with dry wit, slapstick bits, caricaturistic characters, kooky edits, and brief homages to classic B horror, ''Lake Michigan Monster'' is an earnestly funny, one-of-a-kind wild joy to watch."<ref name="Gursky 2020">{{cite web|last=Gursky|first=Michael|title=Lake Michigan Monster Review: A Drugged-out Nautical Adventure with 50s Monster Movie Madness|url=https://movieweb.com/lake-michigan-monster-review/|publisher=[[MovieWeb]]|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=August 8, 2020}}</ref>
The offbeat humor and witty dialogue were reviewed favorably by critics. Tracy Allen of PopHorror compared the film's comedic elements to [[Don Coscarelli]]'s 2012 film ''[[John Dies at the End (film)|John Dies at the End]]'', while also commending the film for its fast pacing.<ref name="Allen 2019"/> ''[[ON Magazine|On Yorkshire Magazine]]'' further echoed this sentiment towards the visual gags and dialogue.<ref name="Crow 2020"/> ''Gruesome Magazine'' offered similar praise, further noting the comedic elements often switched between what he called "[[Vaudeville|Vaudvillian]] corny to laugh-out-loud hilarious".<ref name="Perry 2019"/> [[MovieWeb]]'s Michael Gursky summarized the film by writing, "Littered with dry wit, slapstick bits, caricaturistic characters, kooky edits, and brief homages to classic B horror, ''Lake Michigan Monster'' is an earnestly funny, one-of-a-kind wild joy to watch."<ref name="Gursky 2020"/> While commenting on the film's dry wit "play[s] better than the splashier, wetter knockabout", [[Kim Newman]] favorably compared the retroactive comedic elements to [[Robert Altman]]'s ''[[Popeye (film)|Popeye]]'' (1980) and [[Larry Blamire]]'s ''[[Lost Skeleton of Cadavra]]'' (2001).<ref name="Newman 2019"/>
In 2023, the film website [[Collider (website)|Collider]] ranked the film at No. 3 in their list of "10 Underrated Horror Comedies From the 2010s".<ref name="Lee III 2023">{{cite web|last=Lee III|first=Robert|title=10 Underrated Horror Comedies From the 2010s|url=https://collider.com/underrated-horror-comedies-2010s/#39-lake-michigan-monster-39-2018|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=April 28, 2023|date=March 19, 2023}}</ref>
==Accolades and recognition==
''Lake Michigan Monster'' has received numerous awards and nominations since its 2018 premiere. In 2023, the film website [[Collider (website)|Collider]] ranked the film at No. 3 in their list of "10 Underrated Horror Comedies From the 2010s".<ref name="Lee III 2023"/>
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
Line 96:
| Ryland Brickson Cole Tews (director), Mike Cheslik (producer)
| {{won}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Fantasia Film Festival 2019"/>
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Fantasia Film Festival 2019">{{cite web|title=Announcing the Audience Awards of Fantasia's 23rd Edition!|url=https://2019.fantasiafestival.com/en/news/announcing-the-audience-awards-of-fantasias-23rd-edition|publisher=[[Fantasia Film Festival]]|access-date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618034930/https://2019.fantasiafestival.com/en/news/announcing-the-audience-awards-of-fantasias-23rd-edition|archive-date=June 18, 2021|date=August 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="9"|FilmQuest
Line 103:
| Mike Cheslik
| {{won}}
| rowspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="FilmQuest 2019b">{{cite web|title=2019 Award Winners & Nominees|url=http://www.filmquestfest.com/2019-award-winners-nominees/|publisher=FilmQuest|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=September 14, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Best Director – Feature
| Ryland Brickson Cole Tews
| {{nominated}}
|-
| Best Ensemble Cast – Feature
| ''Lake Michigan Monster''
Line 120:
| Bobb Barito (sound mixer)
| {{nominated}}
|-
| Best Score – Feature
| rowspan="4"|''Lake Michigan Monster''
Line 134:
| {{nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"|[[Nightmares Film Festival]]
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|October 31, 2019
| Best Actor Feature
| Ryland Brickson Cole Tews
| {{nominated}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Nightmares Film Festival 2019">{{cite web|title=2019 Awards & Recap|url=https://nwnightmares.com/2019/10/awards/|publisher=[[Nightmares Film Festival]]|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513034458/https://nwnightmares.com/2019/10/awards/|archive-date=May 13, 2020|date=October 31, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Best Midnight Feature
Line 149:
| Award This! WTF Indie like "What the F**k is This Movie Even?"
| {{nominated}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="FilmThreat 2021">{{cite web|title=Award This! 2021 Winners Announced From Drive-In Ceremony|url=https://filmthreat.com/news/award-this-2021-winners-announced-from-drive-in-ceremony/2/|publisher=FilmThreat|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=April 18, 2021}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"|Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|April 23, 2021
Line 159:
| Ryland Brickson Cole Tews
| {{nominated}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="JTIFF 2021">{{cite web|title=Awards 2021|url=https://www.jimthorpeindiefilmfest.com/awards-2021-jtiff|publisher=Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=2021}}</ref>
|-
|}
Line 167:
==References==
{{reflist}}|30em|refs=
<ref name="Abertoir 2023">{{cite web|title=Lake Michigan Monster|url=http://abertoir.co.uk/archive/2019-festival/films-2019/item/495-lake-michigan-monster|publisher=[[Abertoir]]|access-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406175750/http://abertoir.co.uk/archive/2019-festival/films-2019/item/495-lake-michigan-monster|archive-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="Allen 2019">{{cite web|last=Allen|first=Tracy|title=Fantasia 2019: 'Lake Michigan Monster' (2018) Movie Review|url=https://pophorror.com/fantasia-2019-lake-michigan-monster-2018-movie-review/|website=PopHorror|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=July 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030145505/https://pophorror.com/fantasia-2019-lake-michigan-monster-2018-movie-review/|archive-date=October 30, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Allman 2020">{{cite web|last=Allman|first=John|title=Instant cult classic 'Lake Michigan Monster' reinvents genre cinema on a shoestring|url=https://www.cltampa.com/arts/instant-cult-classic-lake-michigan-monster-reinvents-genre-cinema-on-a-shoestring-12289666|publisher=[[Creative Loafing]]|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409172710/https://www.cltampa.com/arts/instant-cult-classic-lake-michigan-monster-reinvents-genre-cinema-on-a-shoestring-12289666|archive-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="BIFF 2019">{{cite web|title=Lake Michigan Monster – BIFF|url=https://beloitfilmfest.org/films/lake-michigan-monster/|publisher=[[Beloit International Film Festival]]|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815224829/https://beloitfilmfest.org/films/lake-michigan-monster/|archive-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Cleveland Institute of Art 2024">{{cite web|title=LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER|url=https://www.cia.edu/cinematheque/film-schedule/2024/02/lake-michigan-monster|publisher=[[Cleveland Institute of Art]]|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117130640/https://www.cia.edu/cinematheque/film-schedule/2024/02/lake-michigan-monster|archive-date=January 17, 2024|date=January 2, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Crow 2020">{{cite web|last=Crow|first=Roger|title=Lake Michigan Monster (2018) – Film Review|url=https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/arts/film-reviews/lake-michigan-monster/|website=On Magazine.co.uk|publisher=On: Yorkshire Magazine|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004055518/https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/arts/film-reviews/lake-michigan-monster/|archive-date=October 4, 2020|date=October 3, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Fantasia Film Festival 2019">{{cite web|title=Announcing the Audience Awards of Fantasia's 23rd Edition!|url=https://2019.fantasiafestival.com/en/news/announcing-the-audience-awards-of-fantasias-23rd-edition|publisher=[[Fantasia Film Festival]]|access-date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618034930/https://2019.fantasiafestival.com/en/news/announcing-the-audience-awards-of-fantasias-23rd-edition|archive-date=June 18, 2021|date=August 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Dahl 2020a">{{cite web|last=Dahl|first=Dakota|title=Exclusive Interview: We Do A Deep Dive With "Lake Michigan Monster"s Ryland Tews|url=https://rue-morgue.com/exclusive-interview-we-do-a-deep-dive-with-lake-michigan-monsters-ryland-tews/|publisher=[[Rue Morgue (magazine)|Rue Morgue]]|access-date=April 7, 2023|date=August 11, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Dahl 2020b">{{cite web|last=Dahl|first=Dakota|title=Movie Review: The Deadly And Dreamlike "Lake Michigan Monster" Surfaces At Arrow|url=https://rue-morgue.com/movie-review-the-deadly-and-dreamlike-lake-michigan-monster-surfaces-at-arrow/|website=[[Rue Morgue (magazine)|Rue Morgue]].com|publisher=Marrs Media Inc.|access-date=April 1, 2023|date=August 4, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Door County Today 2019">{{cite web|title=Encore Presentation of Door County Short Film Fest in Ellison Bay on April 19–20|url=https://doorcounty.net/encore-presentation-of-door-county-short-film-fest-in-ellison-bay-on-april-19-20/|website=DoorCounty.net|publisher=Door County Today|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=April 1, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="FantasiaFest 2019">{{cite web|title=Lake Michigan Monster|url=https://2019.fantasiafestival.com/en/film/lake-michigan-monster|website=FantasiaFestival.com|publisher=[[Fantasia International Film Festival]]|access-date=April 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806110946/https://2019.fantasiafestival.com/en/film/lake-michigan-monster|archive-date=August 6, 2021|date=February 25, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="FilmQuest 2019a">{{cite web|title=FILMQUEST 2019 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS|url=http://www.filmquestfest.com/2019-official-selections/|publisher=FilmQuest|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=August 27, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="FilmQuest 2019b">{{cite web|title=2019 Award Winners & Nominees|url=http://www.filmquestfest.com/2019-award-winners-nominees/|publisher=FilmQuest|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=September 14, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="FilmThreat 2021">{{cite web|title=Award This! 2021 Winners Announced From Drive-In Ceremony|url=https://filmthreat.com/news/award-this-2021-winners-announced-from-drive-in-ceremony/2/|publisher=FilmThreat|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=April 18, 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="Flyway Film Festival 2023">{{cite web|title=Film Images 2019 – Flyway Film Festival|url=https://www.flywayfilmfestival.org/film-images-2019/s57d7doqwgp3n8ofr3tbwz7jub12zz|publisher=[[Flyway Film Festival]]|access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="French 2019">{{cite web|last=French|first=Caitlyn|title=Your guide to Hell's Half Mile Film and Music Festival 2019|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/g66l-2019/09/a8cffd702a4016/your-guide-to-hells-half-mile-film-and-music-festival-2019.html|website=[[MLive Media Group|MLive.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207181310/https://www.mlive.com/news/g66l-2019/09/a8cffd702a4016/your-guide-to-hells-half-mile-film-and-music-festival-2019.html|archive-date=December 7, 2019|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=September 26, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Gursky 2020">{{cite web|last=Gursky|first=Michael|title=Lake Michigan Monster Review: A Drugged-out Nautical Adventure with 50s Monster Movie Madness|url=https://movieweb.com/lake-michigan-monster-review/|publisher=[[MovieWeb]]|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=August 8, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Halen 2019">{{cite web|last=Halen|first=Adrian|title=MidWest WeirdFest 2019 First Programming Wave Announced|url=https://horrornews.net/139440/midwest-weirdfest-2019-first-programming-wave-announced/|website=HorrorNews.net|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=January 26, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Harvey 2024">{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=Dennis|title='Hundreds of Beavers' Review: A Singular Live-Action Cartoon of Inspired Slapstick|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/hundreds-of-beavers-review-1235906641/|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=July 11, 2024|date=February 17, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Hermanns 2020">{{cite web|last=Hermanns|first=Grant|title=Lake Michigan Monster Review: A Dizzying & Outrageous Laugh Riot!|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/reviews/1145016-lake-michigan-monster-review-a-dizzying-outrageous-laugh-riot|website=[[ComingSoon.net]]|publisher=Evolve Media Holdings, LLC.|access-date=April 1, 2023|date=August 11, 2020}}</ref>
ref name="Hurtado 2020">{{cite web|last=Hurtado|first=J.|title=Exclusive Clip: Meet The Team From THE LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER, and Discover the Arrow Video Channel's August Additions|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2020/07/exclusive-clip-meet-the-team-from-the-lake-michigan-monster-and-discover-the-arrow-video-channels-au.html|website=ScreenAnarchy.com|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=July 30, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Jannene 2018">{{cite web|last=Jannene|first=Jeramey|title=Milwaukee Film Festival: Lake Michigan Monster|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2018/10/27/milwaukee-film-festival-lake-michigan-monster/|publisher=[[Urban Milwaukee]]|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331064134/https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2018/10/27/milwaukee-film-festival-lake-michigan-monster/|archive-date=March 31, 2020|date=October 27, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="JTIFF 2021">{{cite web|title=Awards 2021|url=https://www.jimthorpeindiefilmfest.com/awards-2021-jtiff|publisher=Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=2021}}</ref>
<ref name="Lee III 2023">{{cite web|last=Lee III|first=Robert|title=10 Underrated Horror Comedies From the 2010s|url=https://collider.com/underrated-horror-comedies-2010s/#39-lake-michigan-monster-39-2018|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=April 28, 2023|date=March 19, 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="LUFF 2019">{{cite web|title=Lake Michigan Monster|url=http://2019.luff.ch/en/programme/film/lake-michigan-monster|publisher=[[Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival]]|access-date=July 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703213553/http://2019.luff.ch/en/programme/film/lake-michigan-monster|archive-date=July 3, 2022|date=October 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="McNeely 2021">{{cite web|last=McNeely|first=Kelly|title=Make 'Em Laugh: 10 Hilarious Horror Parodies Made on a Microbudget|url=https://ihorror.com/10-hilarious-horror-parodies/|website=iHorror.com|access-date=February 16, 2024|date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="McNelly 2020">{{cite web|last=McNelly|first=Kelly|title=Review: 'Lake Michigan Monster' is an Inventive, Crowd-Pleasing Delight|url=https://ihorror.com/review-lake-michigan-monster/|website=iHorror.com|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Millican 2019">{{cite web|last=Millican|first=Josh|title=FilmQuest 2019 Announces Full Line Up |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/299333/filmquest-2019-announces-full-line-up/|website=[[Dread Central]]|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=August 27, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Millican 2020">{{cite web|last=Millican|first=Josh|title=Arrow Video Channel's August Films Include LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER, TENEBRAE & CHILDREN OF THE CORN|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/334198/arrow-video-channels-august-films-include-lake-michigan-monster-tenebrae-children-of-the-corn/|website=[[Dread Central]]|access-date=April 6, 2023|date=July 22, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Milwaukee Twisted Dreams FilmFest 2019">{{cite web|title=Full Schedule for the 2019 Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival|url=http://www.twisteddreamsff.com/films/full-schedule-for-the-2019-milwaukee-twisted-dreams-film-festival|website=TwistedDreamsFF.com|publisher=Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=February 16, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Monaghan 2019">{{cite web|last=Monaghan|first=John|title=Jokey 'Lake Michigan Monster' to screen at Hamtramck's Vidlings & Tapeheads Film Festival|url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/06/27/jokey-monster-comedy-play-hamtramck-film-fest/1566708001/|publisher=[[Detroit Free Press]]|access-date=July 15, 2024|date=June 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Monovich 2024">{{cite web|last=Monovich|first=Jonathan|title=Man vs. Wild: Hundreds of Beavers|url=https://filmint.nu/hundreds-of-beavers-review-jonathan-monovich/|publisher=[[Film International]]|access-date=July 15, 2024|date=April 14, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Mueller 2018a">{{cite web|last=Mueller|first=Matt|title=Here's your complete 2018 Milwaukee Film Festival schedule|url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/milwaukee-film-festival-guide-2018|website=[[OnMilwaukee]].com|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=October 24, 2018}}</ref>
<ref name="Mueller 2018b">{{cite web|last=Mueller|first=Matt|title=The MKE-made "Lake Michigan Monster" makes landfall at the film festival|url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/lake-michigan-monster-interview|website=OnMilwaukee|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=October 24, 2018}}</ref>
<ref name="Muir 2020">{{cite web|last=Muir|first=Nathaniel|title=The Lake Michigan Monster interview: Ambiguous, wacky, and fun|url=https://aiptcomics.com/2020/08/10/the-lake-michigan-monster-interview-ambiguous-wacky-and-fun/|website=AIPTComics.com|access-date=April 16, 2023|date=August 10, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Newman 2019">{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Kim|author-link=Kim Newman|title=Fantasia Film Festival review – Lake Michigan Monster|url=https://johnnyalucard.com/2019/07/26/fantasia-film-festival-review-lake-michigan-monster/|website=JohnnyAlucard.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|date=July 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Nightmares Film Festival 2019">{{cite web|title=2019 Awards & Recap|url=https://nwnightmares.com/2019/10/awards/|publisher=[[Nightmares Film Festival]]|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513034458/https://nwnightmares.com/2019/10/awards/|archive-date=May 13, 2020|date=October 31, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Nightmares Film Festival 2020">{{cite web|title=2019 film selections — Nightmares Film Festival|url=https://nightmaresfest.com/2019-festival/|publisher=[[Nightmares Film Festival]]|access-date=July 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027024455/https://nightmaresfest.com/2019-festival/|archive-date=October 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NEWHFF 2019">{{cite web|title=Northeast Wisconsin Horror Film Festival- 2019 Lineup|url=https://www.newhorrorfest.com/2019-lineup|publisher=Northeast Wisconsin Horror Film Festival|access-date=July 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130231614/https://www.newhorrorfest.com/2019-lineup|archive-date=November 30, 2020|date=October 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Perry 2019">{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Joeseph|title=Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival Reviews: "The Next Kill" and "The Lake Michigan Monster"|url=https://gruesomemagazine.com/2019/04/08/milwaukee-twisted-dreams-film-festival-reviews-the-next-kill-and-the-lake-michigan-monster/|work=Gruesome Magazine|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=April 8, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Perry 2020">{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Nick|title=REVIEW: Lake Michigan Monster (2018) dir. Ryland Brickson Cole Tews|url=https://bostonhassle.com/review-lake-michigan-monster-2018-dir-ryland-brickson-cole-tews/|website=[[Boston Hassle]]|access-date=July 19, 2024|date=August 6, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Prange 2020">{{cite web|last=Prange|first=Stephanie|title='Lake Michigan Monster,' 'Silent Running' Among Titles Due on Blu-ray in November From MVD and Arrow|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/lake-michigan-monster-silent-running-among-titles-due-on-blu-ray-in-november-from-mvd-and-arrow/|publisher=[[Media Play News]]|access-date=July 15, 2024|date=November 2, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Rake 2020">{{cite web|last=Rake|first=Jamie|title=Milwaukee Filmmaker Scores Big with Horror-Comedy 'Lake Michigan Monster'|url=https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/comedy/milwaukee-filmmaker-scores-big-with-horror-comedy-lake-michi/|publisher=[[The Shepherd Express]]|access-date=July 15, 2024|date=August 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes 2024">{{cite web|title=Lake Michigan Monster – Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lake_michigan_monster|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=July 5, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Sitges 2023a">{{cite web|title=The Festival's 56th Edition Kicks Off by Announcing its Complete Lineup|url=https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/noticies/festivals-56th-edition-kicks-announcing-its-complete-lineup|publisher=[[Sitges Film Festival]]|date=September 12, 2023|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918072027/https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/noticies/festivals-56th-edition-kicks-announcing-its-complete-lineup|archive-date=September 18, 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="Sitges 2023b">{{cite web|title=Lake Michigan Monster- Sitges Film Festival|url=https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/film/2023/lake-michigan-monster|publisher=Sitges Film Festival|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516220528/https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/film/2023/lake-michigan-monster|archive-date=May 16, 2024|date=October 15, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Sorrento 2020">{{cite web|last=Sorrento|first=Matthew|title=Guy Maddin Meets SpongeBob: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews' Lake Michigan Monster (Arrow Video)|url=https://filmint.nu/ryland-brickson-cole-tews-lake-michigan-monster-review-thomas-puhr/|publisher=[[Film International]]|access-date=April 7, 2023|date=December 31, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Speiser 2020">{{cite web|last=Speiser|first=Joshua|title=Lake Michigan Monster|url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/lake-michigan-monster/|website=[[Film Threat]]|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=July 23, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Tilley 2012">{{cite web|last=Tilley|first=Doug|title=No-Budget Nightmares – Interview with The Summer of Massacre Director Joe Castro|url=http://dailygrindhouse.com/thewire/no-budget-nightmares-interview-with-summer-of-the-massacre-director-joe-castro/|website=DailyGrindhouse|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=April 25, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="Tinnin 2020">{{cite web|last=Tinnin|first=Drew|title=LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER Review – An Absurdist Adventure Tale Told In Glorious Black & White|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/335053/lake-michigan-monster-review-an-absurdist-adventure-tale-told-in-glorious-black-white/|website=[[Dread Central]]|access-date=April 21, 2023|date=August 11, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Vildings and Tapeheads 2019">{{cite web|title=VTFF2019 Schedule|url=https://vidlingsandtapeheads.com/vtff2019/|website=VildingsandTapeheads.com|publisher=Vildings & Tapeheads Film Festival|access-date=April 2, 2023|date=March 2, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Vinney 2020">{{cite web|last=Vinney|first=Cynthia|title=Lake Michigan Monster's Ryland Tews On His Trippy Indie (+ An Exclusive Clip)|url=https://www.cbr.com/lake-michigan-monster-ryland-tews-interview/|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=April 7, 2023|date=August 19, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Whittaker 2019">{{cite web|last=Whittaker|first=Richard|title=Fantasia Review: Lake Michigan Monster|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2019-08-09/fantasia-review-lake-michigan-monster/|publisher=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|access-date=April 1, 2023|date=August 19, 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="Wild 2019">{{cite web|last=Wild|first=Matt|title=Madness, mayhem lurk below the surface of Milwaukee-made 'Lake Michigan Monster'|url=https://milwaukeerecord.com/film/madness-mayhem-lurk-below-the-surface-of-milwaukee-made-lake-michigan-monster/|website=Milwaukee Record|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404144421/https://milwaukeerecord.com/film/madness-mayhem-lurk-below-the-surface-of-milwaukee-made-lake-michigan-monster/|archive-date=April 4, 2019|date=April 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Wild 2021">{{cite web|last=Wild|first=Matt|title=Catch screenings of MKE-made 'Lake Michigan Monster' at Lakefront Brewery, Avalon Theater|url=https://milwaukeerecord.com/film/catch-screenings-of-mke-made-lake-michigan-monster-at-lakefront-brewery-avalon-theater/|publisher=Milwaukee Record|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520181148/https://milwaukeerecord.com/film/catch-screenings-of-mke-made-lake-michigan-monster-at-lakefront-brewery-avalon-theater/|archive-date=May 20, 2021|date=May 20, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
==External links==
Line 191 ⟶ 300:
[[Category:Lake Michigan]]
[[Category:Parodies of horror]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:English-language independent films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy films]]