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Blood Waters of Dr. Z (film)

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For the episode, see MST3K 1005 - Blood Waters of Dr. Z.
“ Sargassum: The weed of deceit! ”
- Dr. Leopold


Blood Waters of Dr. Z is a 1971 science-fiction film directed by Don Barton (with contributions by Arnold Stevens) and written by Ron Kivett and Lee O. Larew.

Plot[]

BloodWater

Blood Waters of Dr. Z

In the early 1970s, Nazi scientist Dr. Kurt Leopold he has lived alone in his laboratory for 20 years. He is contemplating his former colleagues' derision for his "formula", which is described as "ZaAt" (read Z-sub-A, A-sub-T, but which he simply calls "Zaat"). This compound can transform humans into sea creature hybrids and "mutate all sea life". He injects himself with the serum and immerses himself in a tank connected to an array of equipment, emerging as a furred, fish-like monster.

His first act of revenge on the society that he feels has wronged him is to release several smaller walking catfish around the town's lakes and rivers, an annoyance to the townspeople. He releases Zaat into the local water supply, rendering many of the townspeople ill.

Leopold decides to kill the colleagues that scoffed at his work, beginning with Maxson. In a lake where Maxson is fishing, Leopold swims under Maxson's boat, overturns it, and kills Maxson and Maxson's son. Maxson's wife escapes, although she is in shock from the attack. Leopold later kills another colleague, Ewing.

Leopold returns to the lake where he had seen a young woman camping alone and waits for an opportunity to abduct her. She dives into the lake, and Leopold catches her underwater. He swims with her to his lab as she struggles to escape.

At the lab, the woman is strapped into a mesh basket next to the large tank of Zaat. She is unconscious, and Leopold reveals his intentions to make her his mate. Leopold injects Zaat into her neck. As she is immersed into a tank of Zaat, the girl wakes up and struggles against the ropes holding her. The equipment malfunctions and her partially-transformed corpse is pulled from the tank.

Meanwhile, the local sheriff breaks up a group of folk singers and arrests them.

Leopold attempts to kidnap another mate. His choice is Martha Walsh, a member of the INPIT scientific team sent to investigate the bizarre happenings in the town. Leopold grabs her and takes her to his lab, but two of her companions are waiting there. Leopold kills them and the sheriff. He injects her with Zaat, readies her to be immersed in the tank, and escapes with canisters of Zaat. Martha's transformation does not go as planned and she is rescued by one of her dying companions as Leopold flees toward the ocean. Despite being saved from the transformation, she appears to be in a trance and walks into the sea after Leopold, who has been shot but not killed.

Cast[]

  • Marshall Grauer as Dr. Kurt Leopold
  • Wade Popwell as The Monster
  • Paul Galloway as Sheriff Lou Krantz
  • Gerald Cruse as Rex
  • Sanna Ringhaver as Martha Walsh
  • Dave Dickerson as Walker Stevens

Notes[]

  • Walking catfish do exist. They are native to Southeast Asia, and are an invasive species in the United States, primarily in Florida.
  • One of the locations used was the St. Johns River near Green Cove Springs, Florida.
  • This film was released as part of the Thriller Video VHS series (with host segments by Elvira) under the alternate title Attack of the Swamp Creatures.
  • Director Don Barton filled the monster role through a newspaper ad. The ad read: "Wanted: 6'5 or taller male to play the role of monster in horror movie. Must be experienced swimmer, scuba diver. Acting Ability not required!" Barton said ten people responded.
  • Originally, the film was supposed to include scenes of gigantic catfish destroying the countryside. Footage produced of the walking catfish on miniature landscapes was considered to be too unconvincing. One shot made it into the film - a catfish squirms next to a miniature fence during one sequence.
  • In an interview, writer Ron Kivett said the script was inspired by an article he read about a species of "walking" catfish that could live in water and on land. The article theorized that the fish were possibly a mutation. Doctor Leopold refers to the same species of fish in his voice-over narrative.
  • This was the only film credit for most of the cast and crew. Two exceptions were Paul Galloway, who appeared in J.D.'s Revenge (1976), and one of the extras, who appeared in Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! (1989). Director Don Barton had previously directed the industrial short They're Out To Get You (1969).
  • The Marineland park location that was used for Dr. Leopold's lab was previously used for another monster film: Revenge of the Creature.
  • Movie continuity mistake: As Leopold attempts to convert the girl into his mate, we first see her hands tied down as he gives her the injection (preventing her from stopping him, of course) but her hands are free seconds later when he dunks her (apparently so the actress could hold her nose).
  • The film's opening theme was performed by folk singer Jamie DeFrates, who is still active in the music community. 

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