Alligator (1980)

Director: Lewis Teague

Starring: Robert Forster, Robin Riker, Michael V. Gazzo, Dean Jagger, Perry Lang, Henry Silva

More info: IMDb

Tagline: It lives 50 feet beneath the city. It's 36 feet long. It weighs 2,000 pounds...And it's about to break out!

Plot: Twelve years ago, the Kendall family's pet alligator was set free in the Chicago sewers, where it fed on the bodies of dogs used in genetic experiments. Now, the giant mutated reptile is on a feeding spree, killing everyone in its path.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? Hells, yeah!

#188 on Drive-In Delirium Volume 1 (part of the TRAILER TRASH PROJECT)


You go into a movie like this just wanting to be entertained. You watch the trailer and/or read the plot summary and you've got all the ammunition you need for any expectation. If it's remotely fun, you're pleased. If it turns out to pretty damn good, you're flabbergasted. Color me flabbergasted! ALLIGATOR was a hoot and a half!


Thanks to a silly-but-fun script by John Sayles (that's right, THE John Sayles), a smooth and cool performance by Robert Forster (gee, I really dig this guy's easy going acting style) and an over-the-top Henry Silva as a big game hunter coming to save the day, ALLIGATOR is an hour and a half of pure goofy fun. You'll think I'm nuts but you need to see this to understand how wonderfully natural the chemistry is between Forster and his love interest played by Robin Riker. It's adorable and it feels so real. Yeah, I know, this is a cheesy movie called ALLIGATOR about a giant gator terrorizing the big city and it's got some lovely romance in it. Netflix the widescreen DVD and see for yourself. This movie really is a lot of fun!