Alligator (film)

Alligator
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLewis Teague
Screenplay byJohn Sayles
Story by
Produced byBrandon Chase
Starring
CinematographyJoseph Mangine
Edited by
  • Larry Bock
  • Ron Medico
Music byCraig Hundley
Production
company
Group 1 Films[1]
Distributed byGroup 1 Films[1]
Release dates
  • November 14, 1980 (1980-11-14) (LA)[1]
  • June 5, 1981 (1981-06-05) (NYC)
Running time
94 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1 million[2]
Box office$6,459,000

Alligator is a 1980 American independent horror film directed by Lewis Teague and written by John Sayles. It stars Robert Forster, Robin Riker and Michael V. Gazzo. It also includes an appearance by actress Sue Lyon in her last screen role. Set in Chicago, the film follows a police officer and a reptile expert who track an enormous, ravenous man-eating alligator flushed down the toilet years earlier, that is attacking residents after escaping from the city's sewers.

A direct-to-video sequel was released in 1991, entitled Alligator II: The Mutation. Despite the title, Alligator II shared no characters or actors with the original.[3] A tabletop game based on Alligator was distributed by the Ideal Toy Company in 1980.[4][5]

  1. ^ a b c d e Alligator at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
  2. ^ "Sword and Sorcerer producer Brandon Chase sold on fantasy". The Californian. 23 April 1982. p. 19.
  3. ^ Wingrove, David (1985). Science Fiction Film Source Book. Harlow: Longman. ISBN 0-582-89310-0.
  4. ^ "Alligator Game (1980)". boardgamegeek.com
  5. ^ "Alligator Game (1980) Found - ebay Purchaseof the Year" Archived 2013-11-02 at the Wayback Machine. blog.mondotees.com