Villain(s)  Gill-man

Actor(s):  John Agar, Lori Nelson, John Bromfield, Nestor Paiva

Brief Description  Revenge of the Creature (1955) is an American science fiction horror film directed by Jack Arnold and produced by William Alland for Universal-International. As the first sequel to Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), it stands as the only 3-D film released in 1955 and the highest-grossing entry in the Gill-man trilogy. The film transitions the prehistoric monster from his remote Amazonian home into the exploitative world of mid-century American commercial entertainment.

Plot:
The film opens with Captain Lucas (Nestor Paiva) returning to the Amazon's mysterious Black Lagoon. He is guiding a new expedition led by Joe Hayes (John Bromfield), a ruthless collector hired to secure the creature alive. Despite having been shot numerous times at the end of the previous movie, the Gill-man is discovered alive. The crew uses concussive dynamite blasts to stun the monster into an unconscious state. He is quickly loaded onto a ship and transported out of the jungle.

The Gill-man is brought to the Ocean Harbor Oceanarium in South Florida (filmed on location at Marineland, Florida) to be put on public display. Animal psychologist Professor Clete Ferguson (John Agar) and a beautiful ichthyology student named Helen Dobson (Lori Nelson) are brought in to study and attempt to tame the beast. To train the creature, the scientists rely on heavy-handed containment tactics, notably using an underwater electric cattle prod to teach him commands. Over weeks of observation, a romantic relationship blossoms between Clete and Helen, much to the jealousy of Joe Hayes. Simultaneously, the Gill-man develops a deep, dangerous obsession with Helen as she works near the glass viewing windows of his tank.

Driven mad by electric shocks, confined isolation, and his fixation on Helen, the Gill-man forces his way out of his chains and tank, killing Joe Hayes in the process. He flees into the local Florida waterways and eventually out to the open ocean. While the local police and coast guard launch a massive manhunt, the creature stalks the nearby coastal community. He flips cars, creates chaos at a local waterfront restaurant, and tracks Helen down to a beachside motel where she and Clete are staying. The Gill-man snatches Helen directly from a party and retreats with her back into the water.

Clete and the local authorities track the monster to a secluded bay where he is holding the unconscious Helen captive. Clete dives into the water to rescue Helen, distracting the beast. Once Helen is safely pulled to the shore, the police surround the area and riddle the Gill-man with a barrage of bullets. Wounded and bleeding out, the creature drifts away into the dark ocean depths, presumed dead. While designed to be a standard 1950s B-movie creature feature, the narrative heavily highlights the hubris and cruelty of humanity. Contemporary retrospectives frequently align sympathy with the Gill-man, pointing out that his "revenge" is entirely provoked by the electro-shock torture, exploitation, and captivity he endures for commercial greed.