Night Tide

[Pilgermann]

I've become a fan of this film after watching it on one of those shoddy AMC Monster Fest DVDs that I picked up at Wal-Marts (I like to add an 's' because I find it amusing).

If you're unfamiliar with it, the film stars Dennis Hopper as a sailor named Johnny who's on shore leave in a little coastal town.  While visiting a jazz club his attention is caught by a dark haired woman by the name of Mora whom he finds out works as a mermaid at a sideshow attraction on the boardwalk.  There's also a strange woman who is often in the vicinity of Mora and seems to have some sort of weird influence on her.  Johnny befriends some locals who operate a carousel that inform him Mora's past boyfriends have all died mysteriously.  This gives rise to the suspicion that Mora may actually be a mermaid who lures men to their deaths.

This isn't striclty a horror film, but a very effective mood piece.  It's a very mysterious and atmospheric film.  The music is cool, too.

I've since ditched my crummy AMC DVD and gotten an excellent one from Image Entertainment.  It has a good transfer (likely the best that will ever come about), commentary by Dennis Hopper and the director Curtis Harrington and some nice liner notes.

Anyone else enjoy this one?  Oh, and I haven't seen any other Curtis Harrington films although I have a cheap-o DVD with Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet that I've not watched, yet.  From the looks of things on IMDB, it looks like he made a bunch of crap.  Night Tide has a cummy 5.7 rating there, which is a shame 'cause it's truly an excellent movie.

[RCMerchant]

Iv'e seen a trailer for it on a SINISTER CINEMA video,and it looks interesting...like a CARNIVAL of SOULS type of thing maybe...plus I like  Dennis Hooper a lot.Hooper also appeared in Harrington"s QUEEN of BLOOD(1966) which is quite good,with Basil Rathbone,JohnSaxon,and Forrest J.Ackerman in a bit.Pieces of this were pilfered for VOYAGE to the PREHISTORIC PLANET,and BOTH films used footage that Roger Corman had aquired from a Russian film called PLANETA BURA(Planet of Storms).

[Pilgermann]

EGADS, right after I finished watching Devil Dog (which is awful although somewhat charming) I found out that Harrington died back on May 6.  Cripes, that's a bummer.  I need to see more of his films.

Oh, and I think this belongs in the good movies section since it didn't exist when I made the thread.

[Fishasaurus]

This is a great little movie with a lot of likable facets, not the least being that Dennis Hopper looks all of 17 in this picture and is the only sane one in the story for a dang change.  It's also a rare GOOD mermaid picture.

I was astounded when no less a luminary than Ray Troll bought a copy of this film on my recommendation.  The power of Hopper compels you!