Zaat (1971)

A mad scientist transforms himself into an aquatic killer.

Directors:

Don Barton, Arnold Stevens (uncredited)

Writers:

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

Stars:

Marshall Grauer, Wade Popwell, Paul Galloway

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Rich Valliere	...	Deputy Sheriff (as Archie Valliere)
Nancy Lien	...	Girl Camper
Russell Holcomb
Gloria Brady
Del Galloway
Hal Nearhoof
Jim Merrill	...	Boy on porch
Elizabeth Barton	...	Girl on porch
Bob Knowles

Storyline

A mad scientist (and apparent former Nazi) unleashes his master plan: to transform himself into a mutated walking catfish, gain revenge on those who have spurned him, and kidnap nubile young women to similarly transform so that he can breed. Or something like that.

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Plot Keywords:

scientist | mad scientist | catfish | cult film | creature feature | 

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Taglines:

Where fear ends and madness begins! [Blood Waters of Dr. Z]

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Attack of the Swamp Creatures

Filming Locations:

Green Cove Springs, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Barton Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was shot in 1971, and had a limited release in the American South. Wide release came four years later.

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Goofs

When Walker Stevens is in bed and Rex is talking to him, the shadow of a boom mic is persistently visible before Martha joins him and the monster spies them through the window.

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Quotes

Dr. Leopold: The formula they all laughed at - Z sub A, A sub T... ZaAt!

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Alternate Versions

For its 1999 airing on Mystery Science Theater 3000, Zaat (shown under the title Blood Waters of Dr. Z) was heavily edited. Among the numerous scenes cut were further scenes of the INPIT agents, Dr. Leopold disposing of his victim in a vat of acid, scenes of the locals evacuating, and one bizarre scene where a band of singing hippies is taken to the jail by the Sheriff.

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Connections

Referenced in I Hate Everything: the Search for the Worst: Manos: The Hands of Fate (2015)

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Soundtracks

World War II Boy
(the theme from 'Zaat')
Written and performed by Jamie DeFrates and Barry Hodgin

User Reviews

Why not a 1?

Yes, I gave it a 2, dammit. The underwater photography is tolerable and there are a couple of suspenseful attacking moments. Basically, however, this movie rambles on pointlessly, much like the "walking catfish" mutant and the government agent who tracks him in the last third of the movie.

The first 20 minutes of the movie is in (hilarious) voiceover, and you begin to wonder if they lost the soundtrack ala Creeping Terror and Beast of Yuca Flats. Then the characters actually start speaking on-screen and you wish they had lost the soundtrack. The dialogue seems to bear no resemblance to the onscreen goings-on. I suppose it establishes some plot points and clarifies things for the audience, but there are so many ramblings and offshoots that you just kinda of give up and give in.

The "monster" looks like an early draft of a Silurian costume from Doctor Who, with a fur neckpiece (??). The skinny, balding bad guy is on-screen for only a few minutes before undergoing his transformation, but imprints himself indelibly in our minds thanks to his stripping down, his hamhanded maneuvering himself into the transformation tank, and his omniscient voiceover narration.

And the fish! What is it with the fish? The opening narration dwells on them (giving us a good impression of Jacques Costeau as a Nazi gone bad), and at least one murder scene decides to insert random shots of fish in-between cuts. There seems to be some kind of implied ecological nature-takes-vengeance message here somewhere, but like everything else, it is lost entirely in the rambling dialogue.

Basically, the movie is pretty much a waste of celluloid. A few good moments, as I've seen far worse underwater cinematography. Watch it if you dare.