Zaat (1975)

User Rating:

1.4/10   

Director:

Don Barton

Writers:

Ron Kivett (story) and
Lee O. Larew (story) ...

Release Date:

April 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Hydra will rip at your senses and plunge you into a quagmire of revulsion...

Plot:

A mad scientist transforms himself into an aquatic killer.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Mad Scientist | Catfish | Doctor | Dr Z

Cast

Marshall Grauer	...	Dr. Kurt Leopold
Wade Popwell	...	The Monster
Paul Galloway	...	Sheriff Lou Krantz
Gerald Cruse	...	Marine Biologist Rex
Sanna Ringhaver	...	INPIT Agent Martha Walsh
Dave Dickerson	...	INPIT Agent Walker Stevens
Archie Valliere	...	Deputy Sheriff
Nancy Lien	...	Girl Camper
Russell Holcomb
Gloria Brady
Del Galloway
Hal Nearhoof
Jim Merrill
Elizabeth Barton
Bob Knowles

Also Known As:

Attack of the Swamp Creatures (USA) (bootleg title)
Blood Waters of Dr. Z (USA)
Dr. Z (USA)
Hydra (Canada: English title) (video title (bootleg title))
Legend of the Zaat Monster (USA)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Green Cove Springs, Florida, USA

Company:

Barton Films

Trivia:

The movie was shot in 1971 and had a limited release in the American south that year, but it would be nearly four years before it saw any wide release.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the morgue scene, the corpse breathes.

Quotes:

Sheriff Krantz: Hah! The state of Florida against a l'il ole catfish. Some case!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Blood Waters of Dr. Z (#11.5)" (1999)

There's a reason Zaat begins with 'Z'...

Crazy scientist living in the Florida swamps turns himself into a monstrous walking fish-man and proceeds to terrorize.

Another drive in low-budgeter that probably would have been more at home in the 1950's rather than the early 70's. It's weird and cheap schlock all the way! The big rubber monster of the film is quite cheesy looking as it teeters around the swamps and struggles to swim in underwater scenes. The zippers of the monster suit are "hidden" by patches of fur. Zaat seems to have all of the hokey B flick trappings - a silly storyline, lackluster acting, crude editing, and a folksy theme song. Also there's a bikini-wearing girl who gets kidnapped by the monster to cap it off.

Now ordinarily such campy qualities might be downright charming to a B horror fan such as myself, unfortunately Zaat is just too roughly-made and ultimately ridiculous for its own good. Not the worst of its kind, it certainly beats the similarly themed 1966 movie Curse of the Swamp Creature, but Zaat leaves much to be desired.

Then again, what other horror film is there where the monster robs a drugstore?

* 1/2 out of ****