Main Cast: Dennis Hopper, Linda Lawson, Gavin Muir, Luana Anders
Release Year: 1961
Country: US
Run Time: 84 minutes
Plot
Writer/director Curtis Harrington does an admirable job working around the severe budget limitations of the 1963 psychological chiller Night Tide. Sailor Johnny (Dennis Hopper) falls in love with carnival-girl Mora (Linda Lawson), despite warnings that Mora is a "jinx" who has brought about the deaths of two previous suitors. Mora performs a mermaid act at the carnival, but to her it's no act: she believes herself the descendant of an underwater race that must kill by the light of the full moon to survive. One evening, Mora tries to kill Johnny, prompting his quick exit. He returns some time later to discover, all too late, that the film's real villain is the jealous carney owner (Gavin Muir). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Feeling somewhat like a Val Lewton film, Night Tide is an imperfect but haunting venture that lingers in the mind for days after viewing, like a dream that won't quite let you go. Director Curtis Harrington is playing with genres, mixing romance and thriller and flirting with horror, and the end result doesn't quite come together as he might desire -- probably because Night Tide was created for the low budget exploitation market, and so there are certain contrivances that are foisted upon it. But Harrington directs the film with such skill, taking careful advantage of the opportunities when he can get beneath the surfaces of the genres and hint at psychological depths, that most will forgive Tide for its flaws. Some may also find the film a tad slow, but the pacing is necessary to create the ethereal moodiness that Harrington is trying for and so often succeeds in capturing. Credit must also be given to David Raksin's excellent score, a definite plus. Fans of Dennis Hopper may be very surprised by his performance here; unlike in many of his later "psychotic" performances, Hopper's work here reveals how gentle and tender he can be. It's a totally believable performance, and essential to the film's effectiveness. There's also strong work from Linda Lawson and Gavin Muir, and Harrington is also fortunate to have Vilis Lapenieks on hand to provide very atmospheric camerawork. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Thomas P. Dillon - Merry-Go-Round Owner; Marjorie Eaton - Mme. Romanovitch; Ben Roseman; Bruno Ve Sota; Cameron - Woman in Black; H.E. West - Lt. Henderson
Credit
Benjamin Zemach - Choreography, Curtis Harrington - Director, Jodie Copelan - Editor, David Raksin - Composer (Music Score), Paul Mathison - Production Designer, Vilis Lapenieks - Cinematographer, Aram Kantarian - Producer, Curtis Harrington - Screenwriter
Sailor Johnny Drake (Dennis Hopper) and sideshow performer Mora (Linda Lawson) fall for each other, yet everyone around them is wary of the romance. Strange events surround the couple and dark secrets lurk in the shadows. Mora believes she is a descendant of the Sirens, mythic sea creatures who lure sailors to their deaths. These inhuman origins drive her to commit murder by full moon. Johnny is unable to believe his lover is capable of such an atrocity, but Mora herself seems more certain of her destiny. When a midnight diving trip gives her the opportunity, Mora is unable to resist the urge to kill. Johnny is forced to choose between his love for the girl and fear for his life and his decision leads to a horrific and unexpected conclusion.
