Prophecy(1979)

       For some odd reason, John Frankenheimer's eco-terror monster film, has always been hated upon by most horror fiends. I remember seeing it as a 10 year old and being totally riveted and frightened at the same time. Of course, I have a penchant for horror films in woodland settings, hence my total devotion to the backwoods slasher film. I think part of the reason the film is often maligned is because of the PG rated that it secured back in 1979. Halloween had been the only really successful horror film of the late decade, and it is all but bloodless. If Prophecy was released today, it would definitely get an R rating, as there are several good gore scenes involved. The only other possible reason that I can think of is that the creature's costume is quite noticeable in a few scenes. That has never been enough for me to call spades on a fun little horror film like this one.
      Robert Foxworth and Talia Shire play a couple(Dr & Musician, respectively), who are called out to the wilds of Maine to help solve a problem going on there. It seems that the local Indians and a Lumber Company are butting heads over the rights to the forest. The Indians being indigenous, claim that it is their homeland, and the Lumber Co. says they own it. When Foxworth and group arrive they are greeted by reps from the Lumber Co, and are taken to the site. Before they arrive, they meet with protest from the Indians(led by Armand Assante), which ends in a chainsaw battle! Before long the Dr. finds out that the Indians are all getting sick, and their children are being born with serious birth defects. They meet the Chief of the tribe that tells them of a local legend about a huge monster that stalks the woods, and protects them. Well, it doesn't take a genius(just someone who has seen Humanoids From The Deep...LOL), to figure out the Lumber Co is responsible for the sickness. We get to see the monster up close several times, and lots of mutations, and even a decapitation, so don't worry about the PG rating.
        It's too bad that the Eco-Terror sub-genre didn't take off, because I really like those films. I can think of The Food Of The Gods, The Being, Piranha, and the aforementioned Humanoids. If I have any readers left, drop some comments if you remember any more Eco-Terror Horror Films.