| Zaat | |
|---|---|
theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Don Barton |
| Produced by | Don Barton |
| Written by | Story: Ron Kivett Lee O. Larew Screenplay: Don Barton |
| Starring | Marshall Grauer |
| Music by | Jamie DeFrates Barry Hodgin Jack Tamul (electronic) |
| Cinematography | Jack McGowan |
| Editing by | George Yarbrough |
| Distributed by | Clark Distributors |
| Release date(s) | 1972 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $75,000 |
Zaat (also known as The Blood Waters of Dr. Z, Hydra (Canadian bootleg title), Attack of the Swamp Creatures (US bootleg title), and Legend of the Zaat Monster (proposed re-release title)) is a 1972[1] cult movie that gained significant exposure when it was used in an episode of movie-mocking television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 in May 1999.[2]
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The film begins with Nazi mad scientist Dr. Kurt Leopold in his lab, where he has lived alone for about twenty years (it is revealed later in the film that he graduated cum laude from MIT in 1934). He is contemplating his former colleagues' laughter at his formula, which is described as "ZaAt" (read Z-sub-A, A-sub-T, but which he simply calls "Zaat").
Leopold looks for a mate, and he injects Zaat into her neck. As she is immersed into a tank of Zaat, the girl wakes up and struggles against the ropes holding to a mesh basket. She eventually dies.
The movie diverts from the storyline for approximately 10–15 minutes to show a lingering scene of the town sheriff Lou, watching a small group of youth playing religious folk music. After one of the youth (an acoustic guitarist, Jamie DeFrates, who also wrote the songs for the film) finishes leading the group in a song, the sheriff places them all in the town's jail, presumably for their own protection.
Leopold attempts to kidnap another mate: his choice is Martha Walsh, the lovely female member of a scientific team sent to investigate the weird happenings in the town (caused by Dr. Leopold). Leopold grabs her after her male counterparts leave her alone.
Jacksonville, Florida resident Don Barton co-wrote, directed and produced the film, which was shot during one month in 1970 on a $75,000 budget. Scenes were filmed at Rainbow Springs, Green Cove Springs, Switzerland, Florida and Marineland of Florida. Upon its release, the movie was shown in Jacksonville, Florida and theatres in mostly southern states.[3] It was shown on July 11, 2009 in Atlanta[4] then in Jacksonville on October 28, 2009, reviving interest in the film. The movie appeared in Statesboro, Georgia on November 1, 2009 but received a poor response.