Piranha (1978)

When flesh-eating piranhas are accidently released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal.

Director:

Joe Dante

Writers:

Richard Robinson (story), John Sayles (story),

Stars:

Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies-Urich, Kevin McCarthy

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bradford Dillman	...	Paul Grogan
Heather Menzies-Urich	...	Maggie McKeown (as Heather Menzies)
Kevin McCarthy	...	Dr. Robert Hoak
Keenan Wynn	...	Jack
Dick Miller	...	Buck Gardner
Barbara Steele	...	Dr. Mengers
Belinda Balaski	...	Betsy
Melody Thomas Scott	...	Laura Dickinson (as Melody Thomas)
Bruce Gordon	...	Colonel Waxman
Barry Brown	...	Trooper
Paul Bartel	...	Mr. Dumont
Shannon Collins	...	Suzie Grogan
Shawn Nelson	...	Whitney
Richard Deacon	...	Earl Lyon
Janie Squire	...	Barbara Randolph

Storyline

When flesh-eating piranhas are accidently released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal.

---

Plot Keywords:

piranha | river | fish | water | experiment | 

---

Taglines:

There's something in the water at Lost River Lake. Something you can't see...something you can't feel...until it's too late!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Piraña

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$600,000 (estimated)

Gross:

SEK 1,585,673 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New World Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 106 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Fonda was originally offered the role of Paul Grogan, but turned it down.

---

Goofs

As Dr. Hoak is attacked by a piranha, he gets onto a raft and his sweater alternates between torn and intact.

---

Quotes

Maggie McKeown: Mr. Grogan, I'm looking for two teenagers that disappeared a few weeks ago. Some friends of theirs said they went camping around here.
Paul Grogan: Well, I haven't seen them. You talk to the sheriff's people?
Maggie McKeown: I did. They told me that it's a pretty big mountain area.
Paul Grogan: It is.
Maggie McKeown: So... I was wondering if there are any places around here they might be or if they may have gone for a swim.
Paul Grogan: Well if they drowned, they'd be swept down to the dam. So, you're starting off at the wrong end.
Maggie McKeown: Boy, you're the wrong end all ...

---

Crazy Credits

The title sinks into the pond water at the start, and turns it blood red. Over the end credits, we hear the sound of piranhas swimming in the ocean. The water turns red as well.

---

Connections

Referenced in This Week in Horror: Trailers from Hell (2011)

User Reviews

"Something bit me!"

The 1978 Roger Corman produced picture Piranha was about…well, piranha. Killer fish escape a government research lab and kill hapless vacationers, fishermen, and scientists. The film could have been real hokey if not for writer John Sayles and director Joe Dante. The two of them would become very successful in Hollywood with the release of The Howling. The cast is full of familiar faces such as Kevin McCarthy, Paul Bartel, Dante regulars Robert Picardo and Dick Miller, and Barbra Steele. The effects are cheesy but that's part of the fun. I believe that they made the best movie about menacing fish that they could. It has just the right mix of comedy and terror and it's entertaining. The Jaws video game was a nice touch too.

"They're eating the guests, sir."