unknown of the landscape, just as women’s bodies are site of anxiety and confusion for men the Amazon river is a place to be feared by the scientists. (Their boat, Rita, is also coded female and acts as passage into the lagoon). I think this puts the creature in an interesting position, he toes the line between human and animal, between the world of rational (masculine) and of nature (feminine). His home being the dark internal space of the lagoon mirrors the internal world of the woman too, specifically Kay which he finds uncanny. The fact that Mark replaces the position of having a relationship with Kay with his obsession with capturing the creature, positions the creature as rather feminine. I think the seduction between Kay and the monster is failed because, yes, he lives in a swamp and she’s a scared human, but they are too similar, their relationship is queer and therefore doomed. Dave comes out on top because he represents the new masculine, the compromise between macho Mark and the feeling creature. This also works as a conflict between the very gendered private vs public spheres, Mark wants to be publicly acknowledged for his findings while Dave wants to protect his domestic, private life. Also, the world of scientific exploration is one that is public and encroaches on the private/natural world that the creature lives in. 

Another aspect of the city vs. country idea doesn’t fully align with this film is that while the city (Mark, Dave, Kay, etc.) are encroaching on the land it is solely Mark who is the representative of money and monetary value. He is the one handling the money and how to fund the expedition, this gives him an edge on the rest of the crew until the natural world conflicts with their study and intellect becomes the key to winning. While in the examples Clover gave city money turns to savagery and wins, Marks aggression loses him his life. Instead, Dave’s quick thinking and knowledge lead him to be victorious against nature, separating man from beast. I think this value of intellectual ideas is one that would resonate with an audience in the mid 50’s, with the Cold War still going strong although McCarthyism coming near a close, it is a cultural race of intellect not brawn. 

I also love the scoring of this film, the underwater scenes where we enter the home of the creature are also where the orchestral score is most prominent and, in some cases, where it is born. this sutures the audience to the other world that is the deep waters, bringing that unknown directly to us. Plus, this had a 3D release which must have been the coolest thing ever.