Lake Placid 1999

In the depths of Aroostook County, Maine, Fish and Game officer Walt Lawson (his fate a gruesome footnote) is suddenly torn asunder by an unseen force while scuba diving in the dark waters of Black Lake. The following day, Sheriff Hank Keough, accompanied by Fish and Game officer Jack Wells, American Museum of Natural History paleontologist Kelly Scott, and mythology professor Hector Cyr - a man consumed by his fascination with crocodiles - converge on the lake to unravel the mystery surrounding Lawson’s gruesome demise.

As they navigate the treacherous terrain, Hank’s deputy Burke finds himself at the mercy of the very same unseen force that claimed Lawson’s life, his boat brutally attacked and his head separated from his body. Meanwhile, Kelly and Hank’s canoe is capsized, revealing a severed human toe and a moose’s decapitated head - grim testament to the unforgiving power lurking beneath the lake’s surface.

The next day, as Hank and Hector engage in a heated debate, a massive brown bear materializes on the shore, only to be snatched from existence by an enormous saltwater crocodile that bursts forth from the water. Its jaws a maw of death, the reptile drags the bear into the depths, its presence an ominous harbinger of doom.

The discovery of Burke’s severed head serves as a grim reminder of the danger lurking beneath the surface. Delores Bickerman, a reclusive hermit living near the lake, reveals that she has been secretly feeding the monstrous crocodile for years, ever since it claimed the life of her husband Bernie two years prior. His mistake? Interfering with the reptile’s attempt to devour a runaway horse.

Hector, ever the enthusiast, decides to take Deputy Sharon Gare on a helicopter ride into the heart of crocodile country. However, his excitement is short-lived as he and Gare are confronted by the very monster they’ve been tracking. Utilizing an inflatable raft as a diversion, they manage to escape with their lives.

As Jack and Hank ponder the best course of action, Hector proposes a plan to lure the crocodile out of the water using one of Bickerman’s cattle, suspended from his helicopter like a tantalizing morsel. Reluctantly, Jack agrees to let Hector take the reins, and together they set their sights on tranquilizing the beast into unconsciousness.

As the sun beats down on the lake’s tranquil surface, the air thickens with anticipation as a majestic predator emerges from the depths. Hector’s helicopter swoops in, but its intended target, Jack, and his companions Kelly, escape the snout of the snapping beast. However, Kelly’s reprieve is short-lived, as she’s sent tumbling into the lake by the crocodile’s whip-like tail. In a remarkable display of athleticism, she scrambles aboard the helicopter just in time, only to find herself facing off against the relentless reptile once more. The crocodile’s attempts to strike are foiled when it becomes trapped inside the spinning blades. Jack seizes the moment, grabbing hold of a tranquilizer rifle and taking aim at his scaly foe. But as the beast succumbs to the sedative’s effects, Hector materializes from the lake, only to be met with a gruesome attack by another crocodile. Just in time, Hank intervenes, blasting the new threat with his grenade launcher. As the dust settles, Florida Fish and Game officers arrive on the scene, carefully loading the neutralized crocodile onto a truck destined for Portland, Maine, where experts will work to unravel the mystery of these curious creatures.

Seven days later, the enigmatic Bickerman is spotted in a serene setting, scattering bread crumbs among a brood of tiny crocodiles. The two adult crocodiles that had earlier wreaked havoc were revealed to be a mating pair, their bond strong enough to produce offspring. As we gaze out upon this idyllic scene, the surviving adult crocodile appears tied to the back of a flatbed trailer, speeding down an unknown road, its fate shrouded in uncertainty.