A baby alligator is flushed down a toilet and survives by eating discarded lab animals that have been injected with growth hormones. The now gigantic animal escapes the city sewers and goes on a rampage, pursued by a cop and a big-game hunter.
Practical Effects
The full-size mechanical alligator still looks better than most CGI.
Writing
John Sayles' script elevates creature feature into social satire.
Acting
Robert Forster brings genuine gravitas to sewer gator nonsense.
Director
Lewis Teague
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The urban legend about flushed alligators in sewers directly inspired this film — screenwriter John Sayles turned a myth into monster movie gold.
This film single-handedly saved the 'giant animal attacks' subgenre from Jaws ripoff oblivion, spawning an entire decade of creature features.
US
