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 snakebite scene was not part of the script. As the character was wading through the waist high water, he really was bitten by a snake. You can see him react and swat at the snake. He hits it and it flies a few feet away and it can be seen swimming across the water right back at him. Cast and crew decided that since it happened, and was in film, they might as well use it. He did not die in real life from the bite, just in the movie.

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Goofs

In one wide shot, the creature wears tennis shoes while returning to the lab.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in I Hate Everything: the Search for the Worst: The Last Airbender (2015)

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Soundtracks

Runnin' Don't Make You Free
Written and performed by Jamie DeFrates and Barry Hodgin

User Reviews

Hilariously awful

An idiotic scientist decides to turn himself into a walking catfish monster. He also wants to create a new race of fellow walking catfish monsters. This is a horrible movie. It starts off with some laughable narration and an awful folk song. It only gets worse from there. That said, I was cracking up a lot throughout this thing. There's one golden moment shortly after the guy has changed into monster form. He's walking through a basement and clearly trips over something, perhaps the shitty monster costume itself. We're also privy to the long, drawn out process of him getting his machines, pulleys and other junk together for the mutation. This takes up about 20 minutes of screen time all by itself.

About halfway through the film, we get more awful singing from a bunch of hippies, followed by a march to the local jail. The so-called hero of the picture is a joke. He and his girlfriend also wear ridiculous red jumpsuits. They should have just stuck with the college guy and the sheriff, not that doing so would have saved the movie or anything. This is currently #10 on the IMDb bottom 100 list. There's no question that this is a bad movie, but I wouldn't rate it that low simply because of the amusement I got out of it.