Dempsey uses various methods to search for the monster, such as sonar, underwater cameras, and a mini-submarine, but finds no evidence. He begins to doubt his own mission and develops feelings for Laura, who encourages him to be more open-minded and respectful of the local culture. He also bonds with Isabel, who believes in Nessie and shows him her drawings of the creature. Meanwhile, Dr. Mercer grows impatient with Dempsey's lack of results and sends his assistant, Adrian Foote (Frain), to pressure him to finish the job. Foote secretly sabotages Dempsey's equipment and tries to discredit him in front of the media.
One night, Dempsey witnesses a large shape moving in the water and decides to investigate. He dives into the loch and encounters Nessie, a friendly plesiosaur-like creature that communicates with him through sonar. He is amazed by his discovery and returns to the surface with a video tape of the encounter. However, he finds that his boat has been destroyed by Foote, who has also stolen his tape. Dempsey confronts Foote at his hotel and retrieves the tape, but is attacked by Foote's thugs. He manages to escape with the help of Water Bailiff, who reveals that he is actually Laura's father and that he has been protecting Nessie for years.
Dempsey decides to share his discovery with the world and organizes a press conference at the inn. He shows the video tape to the reporters and announces that he has found the Loch Ness monster. However, he also says that he will not reveal the exact location of Nessie or allow any further exploration of the loch, in order to protect the creature from harm. He asks for the public's respect and cooperation in preserving the mystery of Loch Ness. The film ends with Dempsey leaving Scotland with Laura and Isabel, who have decided to join him on his next adventure.
Reception
Loch Ness received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Danson and Richardson, but criticized the plot and special effects. The film has a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews. The film was also a box office flop, grossing only $9.9 million worldwide against a budget of $40 million. The film was nominated for one Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film, but lost to Dragonheart.
References
[Loch Ness (1996) - IMDb]
[Loch Ness (DVD 1996) DVD Empire]
[Loch Ness (1996) - Rotten Tomatoes]
[Loch Ness (1996) - Box Office Mojo]
[Saturn Awards - Past Winners]
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