Horror • Science Fiction • Thriller
1980
R
1 hour and 31 minutes
It lives 50 feet beneath the city. It's 36 feet long. It weighs 2,000 pounds...And it's about to break out!
A baby alligator is flushed down a toilet and survives by eating discarded lab animals that have been injected with growth hormones. The now gigantic animal escapes the city sewers and goes on a rampage, pursued by a cop and a big-game hunter.
Release:
July 02, 1980
Original language:
English
Production country:
United States
Producer company:
Budget:
1.500.000 $
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Show crew
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Crew
Cast
Robert Forster
David
David
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Robin Riker
Marisa
Marisa
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Michael V. Gazzo
Chief Clark
Chief Clark
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Dean Jagger
Slade
Slade
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Sydney Lassick
Gutchel
Gutchel
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Jack Carter
Mayor
Mayor
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Perry Lang
Kelly
Kelly
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Henry Silva
Brock
Brock
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Bart Braverman
Kemp
Kemp
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John Lisbon Wood
Mad Bomber
Mad Bomber
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James Ingersoll
Helms
Helms
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Robert Doyle
Bill
Bill
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Patti Jerome
Madeline
Madeline
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Angel Tompkins
Newswoman
Newswoman
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Sue Lyon
ABC Newswoman
ABC Newswoman
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Leslie Brown
Young Marisa
Young Marisa
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Buckley Norris
Bob
Bob
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Royce D. Applegate
Callan
Callan
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Tom Kindle
Announcer
Announcer
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Jim Brockett
Gator Wrestler
Gator Wrestler
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Simmy Bow
Seedy
Seedy
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Jim Boeke
Shamsky
Shamsky
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Stan Haze
Meyer
Meyer
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James Arone
Sloan
Sloan
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Peter Miller
Sgt. Rice
Sgt. Rice
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Pat Petersen
Joey
Joey
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Micole Mercurio
Joey's Mother
Joey's Mother
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Frederick Long
Sparks
Sparks
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Ed Brodow
Ross
Ross
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Larry Margo
Stanley
Stanley
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Philip Luther
Purdy
Purdy
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John F. Goff
Ashe
Ashe
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Elizabeth Halsey
Policewoman
Policewoman
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Barry Chase
Policeman 1
Policeman 1
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Richard Partlow
Policeman 2
Policeman 2
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Jerado Decordovier
Gator Vendor 1
Gator Vendor 1
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Vincent De Stefano
Gator Vendor 3
Gator Vendor 3
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JoJo D'Amore
Gator Vendor 4
Gator Vendor 4
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Bella Bruck
Dot
Dot
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Kendall Carly Browne
Ann
Ann
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Danny Baseda
Radioman
Radioman
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Tink Williams
Hector
Hector
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Corkey Ford
Chi Chi
Chi Chi
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Charles R. Penland
Tyrone
Tyrone
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Anita Keith
Old Lady
Old Lady
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Mike Mazurki
Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper
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Margaret Muse
Society Matron
Society Matron
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Michael Misita
Reporter 1
Reporter 1
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Harold Greene
Reporter 2
Reporter 2
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Jim Alquist
Reporter 3
Reporter 3
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Margie Platt
Bride
Bride
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Nike Zachmanoglou
Maid at Party
Maid at Party
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Gloria Morrison
Woman at Bar-B-Que
Woman at Bar-B-Que
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Robert Hammond
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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Kane Hodder
Alligator (uncredited)
Alligator (uncredited)
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Dana MacDuff
Punk (uncredited)
Punk (uncredited)
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Amy Panter
Party Guest (uncredited)
Party Guest (uncredited)
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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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