Alligator (1980)

Plot Outline: An unwanted pet baby alligator is flushed down the toilet into the sewers where the local chemical research facility has been dumping waste for years. So the alligator is mutated into a 50ft predator with a huge appetite. As people start to go missing and mutilated limbs turn up, its up to a cop to find out what is going on.

The Review: One of the many Jaws clones from the late 70s/early 80s, Alligator is actually one of the better ones. What makes this stand out from the rest? Well not much. There is a lot of tension and gloom to be had when the cast is wandering around the sewers. The sets are dark, damp and eerie and this atmosphere adds to the "there's something lurking here" feel. But as soon as the alligator leaves the sewers, the film gets laughable and quickly. The alligator doesn't look too bad when its locked away in the dark sewers (so you can't see much of it). When it does finally appear, it doesn't look all that bad although you can easily spot the real-life alligator invading miniature sets! Add this is with some limbs here and there and an ample share of gore to get some realistic alligator attacks. There is also a good scene at the birthday party, when a kid makes another kid (all dressed as a pirates) walk the plank into the pool. Unknown to them, it is temporarily housing the alligator who is only to keen to be 'fed' so easily. But for some reason, it all gets tiresome towards the end (for example there is the stupid fact that no one can find a 50ft alligator roaming around the streets) despite a strong penultimate scene. Robert Forster does more than a good job as the cop but his co-stars leave a lot to be desired and you wish the alligator would eat most of them sooner rather than later.

Final Verdict: Alligator may not be scary or a genre classic but it could have been a whole lot worse and at least it's better a lot of other "big monster on the loose" flicks.

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