How could an animal have survived in a crate since 1834?

What like zombies, etc?

I guess you do not understand what the word "supernatural" mean then?

Also, within the "reality" of the film itself. The stories are literally from a comic book.
In our world, comic books don't make real world sense.

And so, God came forth and proclaimed widescreen is the best.
Sony 16:9

I have always wondered how it stayed alive as well.

I too have always wondered how a carnivorous yeti could possibly survive 150 years with no food or water. The hibernation theory seems to be the only logical conclusion, but I highly doubt the creature would've sustained enough nourishment to survive its 150 year stint. Maybe it is some sort of immortal yeti? It would certainly explain its ability to survive underwater.

Another thing I find interesting is that the creature's captors stored it underneath a staircase in a university and somehow forgot about it? You'd think that the creature would've been thoroughly studied! All of these things considered, I still really enjoy the story for its creativity. You don't go into a film like this and take things too seriously.

From now on, we are enemies... you and I.-Amadeus

I think this is why Adam Sandler films do well..no need for thinking.

All jokes aside, the thing in the crate was very adept to survival. Even after it killed someone, remember it moved its crate back into place (helping you to believe that wherever it was before the University, it survived and maybe just found that the University was a great place for food). It had found ways to survive and kill -- seemingly for a long time. And it was thrown into the ocean, so it is a thought that it would bust out of age old, dry wood and chains to survive and find another place to hide and survive. So... is it a far fetched suspension of disbelief or the viewers missing vital clues to its past, present and future survival?

And here is another noodle-scratcher, is it really about 'the crate' or about a henpecked husband finally getting rid of his overbearing, alcoholic wife? I mean, how convenient was that for him?

It knows what scares you. It has since the very beginning.

[deleted]

My only theory is that the creature was in a state of suspension or a extended state of hibernation, but how that works is beyond me.

"I'll go,because I am Cinema!" - Ben (Man Bites Dog)

I only noticed this viewing, but the story about the monster from The Crate kind of reminds me of Barnabas Collins from Dark Shadows. Barnabas is a vampire chained in a coffin in a secret compartment of the family mausoleum. A man named Willie Loomis who is looking for the missing jewelry Barnabas was supposedly buried with finds the location of the hidden coffin, cuts the chains, and releases Barnabas. I always wondered how he survived without blood for almost two centuries. I suppose the hibernation theory could apply in both cases. I would hope they were hibernating because it would drive you insane seeing nothing but the darkness of a box (or coffin) for so many years. I wouldn't wish that on any creature.

Death lives in the Vault of Horror!

this one doesn't. if it was killable, it probably wouldn't be in that crate. wood and nails reek of desperation.