Crocodile (1980 film)


Crocodile is a 1979–1980 Thai monster movie directed by Sompote Sands.

Plot

Tony Akom and John Stromm are two doctors working at Bangkok. Though Tony is happily married and John is engaged, their spouses are often bitter at them since both doctors overwork, frequently leaving home at night to attend the hospital. One weekend, as both couples vacation in Pattaya, the women are mysteriously killed in the water. After examining their remains and going through newspaper articles, Tony discovers the killer is a giant crocodile, possibly mutated by recent atomic bomb testings in the ocean. Swearing revenge on the creature, Tony and John enlist the help of fisherman Tanaka, who lends his boat to pursue the monster.
After the crocodile demolishes a riverside village, authorities set an enormous underwater trap for it, but the plan ultimately fails. Tony, John and Tanaka head to the sea, attempting to lure the crocodile into their path by baiting him with chemical compounds. They are joined in the search by Peter, a photographer who wants to get the scoop on the crocodile's destruction. That night, the crocodile attacks their boat, killing Tanaka. Tony and John open fire at the creature, wounding it, but the crocodile retaliates, crashing into the ship and causing it to sink. John is killed in the process, while Peter straps himself with dynamite and swims into the crocodile's jaws. The monster is destroyed in a giant explosion, presumably killing all on board.

Versions

The international version produced by Dick Randall differs significantly with Sands' original cut:
When Randall's version was distributed in the US by Herman Cohen, further edits replaced the opening credits and end card.
The American Humane Association rated this film unacceptable due to a scene in which a live crocodile is slashed to death with a knife.