Crime • Horror • Science Fiction
1976
R
1 hour and 30 minutes
The people of this city are being terrorized. The crimes have no motives. The killers have only one explanation...
A repressed Catholic NYPD detective uncovers a netherworld of deranged faith, alien insemination and his own unholy connection to a homicidal messiah with a perverse plan for the soul of mankind.
Release:
October 22, 1976
Original language:
English
Production country:
United States
Producer company:
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Crew
Cast
Tony Lo Bianco
Peter J. Nicholas
Peter J. Nicholas
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Deborah Raffin
Casey Forster
Casey Forster
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Sandy Dennis
Martha Nicholas
Martha Nicholas
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Sylvia Sidney
Elizabeth Mullin
Elizabeth Mullin
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Sam Levene
Everett Lukas
Everett Lukas
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Robert Drivas
David Morten
David Morten
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Mike Kellin
Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner
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Richard Lynch
Bernard Phillips
Bernard Phillips
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Sammy Williams
Harold Gorman
Harold Gorman
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Jo Flores Chase
Mrs. Gorman
Mrs. Gorman
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William Roerick
Richards
Richards
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Lester Rawlins
Board Chairman
Board Chairman
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Harry Bellaver
Cookie
Cookie
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George Patterson
Zero
Zero
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Walter Steele
Junkie
Junkie
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John Heffernan
Bramwell
Bramwell
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Alan Cauldwell
Bramwell as a Youth
Bramwell as a Youth
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Robert Nichols
Fletcher
Fletcher
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Andy Kaufman
Police Assassin
Police Assassin
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Al Fann
Detective Squad
Detective Squad
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James Dixon
Detective Squad
Detective Squad
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Bobby Ramsen
Detective Squad
Detective Squad
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Peter Hock
Detective Squad
Detective Squad
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Alex Stevens
Detective Squad
Detective Squad
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Harry Madsen
Detective Squad
Detective Squad
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Randy Jurgensen
Detective Squad
Detective Squad
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Sherry Steiner
Mrs. Phillips as a Girl
Mrs. Phillips as a Girl
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James Dukas
Doorman
Doorman
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Mason Adams
Obstetrician
Obstetrician
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William Bressant
Police Officer
Police Officer
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Armand Dahan
Fruit Vendor
Fruit Vendor
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Vida Taylor
Miss Mullin as a Girl
Miss Mullin as a Girl
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Adrian James
Prostitute
Prostitute
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Lelia Martin
Nurse Jackson (as Leila Martin)
Nurse Jackson (as Leila Martin)
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Michael Pendry
Attendant
Attendant
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Dan Resin
Wall Street Executive
Wall Street Executive
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Sandro Mancori
Wall Street Executive (as Alexander Clark)
Wall Street Executive (as Alexander Clark)
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Marvin Silbisher
Wall Street Executive
Wall Street Executive
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Harry Eno
Medical Examiner
Medical Examiner
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Reviews
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5
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7
02/14/2018
Genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. The best giant croc (Well I mean, it's an alligator, but in terms of what you can do with them in a horror movie, they're really the same thing) creature feature I've seen since Rogue. I wish someone was still making movies like this.
Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time.
- Genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. The best giant croc (Well I mean, it's an alligator, but in terms of what you can do with them in a horror movie, they're really the same thing) creature feature I've seen since Rogue. I wish someone was still making movies like this.
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6
07/09/2018
An oversized alligator from the sewers of Chicago breaks loose
A baby alligator is flushed down the toilet in Chicago and mutates to great size from eating chemically contaminated dog carcasses in the sewers. A policeman (Robert Forster) and a beautiful reptile expert (Robin Riker) team-up to track down the beast when it escapes the sewers and preys on citizens.
“Alligator” (1980) is kind of boring for the first half hour or so, but the last hour perks up and generally keeps your attention. Unlike "Jaws" (1975), which is completely serious and scary, most adults won't take "Alligator" too seriously or find it remotely scary.
In fact, I busted out laughing numerous times when the creature would attack people. Speaking of which, you'll sometimes hear Jaws-imitation suspense music as the creature approaches its prey. Some viewers understandably compare "Alligator" to another “Jaws” rip-off flick, "Piranha" (1978), but that movie’s all-around more entertaining.
What makes "Alligator" mandatory is the awe-inspiring Robin Riker, who doesn't appear until half an hour into the story. From thereon she's featured prominently. Robin was 28 during shooting but possesses such a mature and classy air that she seems at least 35. While I’m on the subject, watch out for the blonde reporter in a red jacket and jeans at about the halfway point (43 minutes). Like Robin, she has an exquisite figure sculptured by God Himself.
There are also some highlights that you won’t likely see in pictures nowadays. For instance, a kid gets chewed up in a suburban pool. And a “great white hunter” (Henry Silva) amusingly corrals three black dudes in the urban jungle to assist him in his hunt. Of course this wouldn’t be “politically correct” today.
The movie runs 1 hour, 27 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles and the Los Angeles River.
GRADE: B-
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6
04/13/2020
It's snappy.
After an irate father flushes down the toilet his daughter's baby alligator, the creature feeds on dumped animals that have been tested with a growth hormone. Thus the gator grows into a 36 foot long monster that promptly terrorises Chicago.
With a rather witty John Sayles script, tidy effects work and Lewis Teague's knowingly "B" movie direction, Alligator turns out to be one of the better post Jaws copy-cats. Very much using a satirical slant, Alligator's gigantic horror is born out of dubious suit types involved in conspiracies. While the cheery pay back that comes the way of various gits responsible for the growth of super gator is rewarding to say the least. Peperred with in jokes as well, Alligator also benefits from having the considerable talents of Robert Forster and Dean Jagger in the cast. They may look a touch bewildered at times, more out of a sense of fun one feels, but they give it gusto supreme and carry the picture to the bloody and entertaining finale.
A million miles away from Jaws of course, but this is a funny, enjoyable and different type of animal. 6.5/10
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6
03/02/2022
Not great but semi-entertaining monster-horror film has its moments and like seeing Robert Forster in the lead. Some of the effects were on the goofy side when it came to the alligator but still for its time I thought it was alright. 3.0/5
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4
11/27/2022
Alligator didn't win any awards, and it shouldn't have. It's so bad, but it might just win your heart if you give it a shot.
Another creature feature with no money, horrible acting, and terrible dialogue that is a lot of fun if you treat it differently than an Oscar contender. Sure, it's a piece of garbage, literally. The alligator got flushed down the toilet ending up in the sewer along with some experimental chemicals mutating it into a giant. Despite being a 40-foot-long maneater, the police and local law enforcement spend the whole movie trying to find the thing (apparently, it's very sneaky) while it munches on a buffet of hapless citizens. Alligator is ridiculous, nonsensical, and a lot of fun if you are a fan of old-school cheesy creature features.
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