George Taylor John Sayles, who wrote Brother from Another Planet, strikes again. In this crazy, fun little film, a little girl's pet alligator gets flushed, encounters medical waste and GET's GIGANTIC. It terrorizes Saint Louis, gets hunted by Henry Silva and Robert Forester and there's all kinds of havoc, A really fun B monster movie.

Adam Nelson I must say that this film caught me by surprise. Having endured terrible "Jaws" ripoffs such as "Tentacles" and "Devilfish", I expected very little from this film in terms of quality, but was gladly mistaken. This is a film that takes into account the potential similarities to "Jaws" and takes every opportunity to differentiate itself rather than delve into parody. Instead of upper class suburban New York we have downtrodden Chicago slums, and of course the titular crocodilian in place of a shark. Without spoiling any details, I can't point out much else. However, to anyone who may have passed on this film due to potential similarities to a certain popular Spielberg film, give it a watch. You will not be disappointed.

inspectors71 I don't have to share it with anyone if I don't want to. Alligator is such a funny, poke-you-in-the-eye sort of horror flick that only the most deathly serious among us wouldn't get a chuckle from it. I remember, more than anything else, the relentless teasing that Robert Forster gets for his bad haircut. Really, haircut jokes? In a story about an alligator that gets flushed down the toi-toi and gets loaded up on growth hormones until, well, you get the picture.I saw Alligator on ABC shortly after it left its theatrical distribution with, probably, not a cent to its name. Yet, when I got to see it in VHS, I jumped at the chance. I honestly don't know if I'd jump again, but I have great affection for this cheap, fun drive-in fare.

Wuchak RELEASED IN 1980 and directed by Lewis Teague, "Alligator" chronicles events in Chicago after a baby alligator is flushed down the toilet 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" 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 buttocks 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 87 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles and the Los Angeles River. WRITER: John Sayles.GRADE: B-