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[tab title="Movie Review"]
With cut-off Arabian souvenirs (hands) filling knick-knack shelves and other odd body parts popping up in the background of this twisted take on the submerged and the macabre, Night Tide is more than just an matinee-styled ode to the works of Edgar Allan Poe and gothic-minded terror. It takes mermaid lore to new levels with a fantastical warning and a nice-sized hook with which to lure weak men with.
Dennis Hopper. The name probably brings to mind cult icons like Billy in Easy Rider, Moon in True Grit, the whacked-out photojournalist in Apocalypse Now, and Frank Booth in Blue Velvet. There are many, many other characters the late actor brought to life; most crazier than the previous. Somehow he made a career of this and his personal life, taking sole responsibility for the rise of cocaine use in early 1970s, wasn’t much different.
It’s a wonder we had many, many wonderful years with this actor. Born in Dodge City, Kansas, this talented guy had a knack for bringing out the crazy in his characters. Some might say it was the truth. Perhaps that streak started early with the films he did alongside James Dean. Regardless of when or where his knack for bringing out the kooky developed, his performance in 1961’s Night Tide remains right up with the best of the lot - especially when we see him strangled by a bunch of fins.
You see, Johnny Drake (Hopper), a sailor, has fallen in love with a woman he is told is, in fact, a mermaid. Mora (Linda Lawson) doesn’t hold much back. She tells him early on, as a member of a traveling carnival, her role is that of a mermaid. The handsome dude is kind to her, going along with the joke, and listens responsively to her (more than) fishy tale.
Written and directed by Curtis Harrington (Killer Bees, Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?, What's the Matter with Helen?), Night Tide is far from a joke. It reads more like New Cinema styling, thanks to an emphasis on setting and emotions. In fact, Night Tide contains very little humor. It entertains through starry seaside happenings alone and, as an expression of mystery and murder, remains haunted.
Of course, Johnny doesn’t believe the girl with the great eyes, but then he starts hearing about the death that follows her; two previous lovers dead. It’s all a put-on, right? The woman is spellbinding, though. She’s like crystalline. Dark-haired and exotic looking, Mora casts a spell upon him like few others and, soon enough, he is hearing stories about murders by the light of the moon. Come to me, Johnny! Save me below the pier!
And on the boardwalk of Santa Monica, anything is possible...even murderous mermaids. Co-starring Gavin Muir as Captain Samuel Murdock, Night Tide is a surreal stroll alongside the beach. It might not be for everybody's tastes as, clocking in at a brisk 85 minutes, it is fairly succinct and obviously very low budget. Honestly, it’s amazing that this film works as well as it does.
In Night Tide, Hopper plays a sailor on shore leave. He spends his days roaming the boardwalk, revisiting the thrills of his ocean side childhood, and looking for hot girls. But Mora has his ticket already punched. One meeting with the jazz of Jimmy Bond playing in the background is all it takes for him to be hopelessly hooked by her fishy ways. She even dances for us in a sort of ethereal manner that really gets the beatniks on the beach going.
Tail or not, this is a haunting narrative full of mood, rhythm, and mayhem. Night Tide will not soon wash away; there are far too many beautiful mysteries to be unpacked within its tight structure. And this fully engaged HD transfer from Kino Lorber significantly improves this lesser-known title to be seen again and again and again.
Night Tide has washed ashore.
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[tab title="Details"]
MPAA Rating: Not rated.
Runtime: 86 mins
Director: Curtis Harrington
Writer: Curtis Harrington
Cast: Dennis Hopper, Linda Lawson, Gavin Muir
Genre: Horror | Thriller
Tagline: Temptress from the sea...loving...killing!
Memorable Movie Quote: "I guess we're all a little afraid of what we love."
Theatrical Distributor: The Filmgroup
Official Site:
Release Date: June, 1963
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: October 15, 2013
Synopsis: A young sailor falls in love with a mysterious woman, performing as a mermaid at the local carnival. He soon comes to suspect the girl might be a real mermaid, who draws men to a watery death during the full moon.
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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]
Blu-ray Details:
Home Video Distributor: Kino Lorber
Available on Blu-ray - October 15, 2013
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: None
Audio: English: LPCM Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A, B
Restored in 2007 by the Academy Film Archive in Los Angeles, Night Tide, presented here with an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, looks absolutely amazing in 1080p. It is full of crisp textures and solid gray tones. Whites are clear. Deep, dark levels are just as clear. It is a black-and-white moody affair that just doesn’t disappoint as it crosses the finish line. Shadows are solid and black levels are clean. Whites light up the image with a rare vibrancy. The only soft area is with the titles and lots of crackles and pops. To be expected, I’m sure, as this flick was a staple at the drive-ins. A Linear PCM 2.0 mono track provide the film’s dialogue and sound.
Supplements:
Commentary:
-
Thankfully, Hopper and director Curtis Harrington recorded themselves while talking about the movie and its production challenges. It is included here as the commentary track for this special release.
Special Features:
We get two interviews from Harrington from 1987. Both interviews cover his career in film. Trailers for other classic horror titles are included.
- Curtis Harrington Interviews (47 min)
- Trailers
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