Demon of Paradise (1987)

This is the seventh film I've seen by Filipino director Cirio H. Santiago of the previous six, I've only rated one higher than 4/10 (the gloriously daft Future Hunters).

Cirio H. Santiago is a prolific Filipino director who churned out a string of exploitation movies throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s and is still going strong today.

A carnivorous reptilian humanoid brute of local legend (played by some poor zhlub in a laughably hokey and obvious rubbery suit) terrorizes a tropical resort after fishermen using dynamite awaken it from its many decades of slumber. It's up to fetching herpetologist Annie (an appealing turn by the fetching Kathyrn Witt) and skeptical no-nonsense sheriff Keefer (a likable performance by William Steis) to kill the bloodthirsty beastie.