The Great Alligator(1979)
11/03/1979 (US)Horror, Mystery1h 28m
4.4
"It is not an animal, it is a demon!"
Overview
Tourists on a tropical island anger an island god, who turns himself into a giant alligator and stalks them.
Sergio Martino
Director
Cesare Frugoni
Writer
George Eastman
Story
Sergio Martino
Writer
Ernesto Gastaldi
Writer
Mara Maryl
Writer
Top Billed Cast
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A review by Wuchak
6.0
Written on August 11, 2019
***A monstrous crocogator attacks a resort on Sri Lanka in this Italo rip-off of “Jaws”***
An entrepreneur (Mel Ferrer) introduces his new exotic resort off the coast of south-central Asia to a photographer and employee (Claudio Cassinelli & Barbara Bach). When the ‘god’ of the remote river is angered by the intrusion he manifests as a giant alligator and starts killing people, including Natives. Naturally, the local tribe rises up to get rid of the tourists.
“The Great Alligator” (1979) is an Italian production, also known as “The Great Alligator River,” “The Big Alligator River” or merely “Alligator.” It’s an Italo knock-off of “Jaws” (1975) and its immediate copies “Piranha” (1978) and “Grizzly” (1976), albeit with a huge crocogator and a south-central Asian setting. It lacks the finesse of “Jaws” and the amusement of “Piranha,” but it has more pizazz than the bland “Grizzly.” The eccentric score is a highlight, mixing 70’s prog rock, tribal percussions and disco.
Lory Del Santo as Jane is notable as one of the partying tourists; she is featured in two superb shots from behind (you’ll know when you see ’em). There’s also an amusing precocious girl with her mother who’s ready to par-tay. Just don’t look for any semblance of political correctness (which is a good thing).
The movie runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Sri Lanka.
GRADE: B-/C+
An entrepreneur (Mel Ferrer) introduces his new exotic resort off the coast of south-central Asia to a photographer and employee (Claudio Cassinelli & Barbara Bach). When the ‘god’ of the remote river is angered by the intrusion he manifests as a giant alligator and starts killing people, including Natives. Naturally, the local tribe rises up to get rid of the tourists.
“The Great Alligator” (1979) is an Italian production, also known as “The Great Alligator River,” “The Big Alligator River” or merely “Alligator.” It’s an Italo knock-off of “Jaws” (1975) and its immediate copies “Piranha” (1978) and “Grizzly” (1976), albeit with a huge crocogator and a south-central Asian setting. It lacks the finesse of “Jaws” and the amusement of “Piranha,” but it has more pizazz than the bland “Grizzly.” The eccentric score is a highlight, mixing 70’s prog rock, tribal percussions and disco.
Lory Del Santo as Jane is notable as one of the partying tourists; she is featured in two superb shots from behind (you’ll know when you see ’em). There’s also an amusing precocious girl with her mother who’s ready to par-tay. Just don’t look for any semblance of political correctness (which is a good thing).
The movie runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Sri Lanka.
GRADE: B-/C+
