Gargantua (film)


Gargantua is a 1998 American television film, starring Adam Baldwin, Julie Carmen and Emile Hirsch. It was directed by Bradford May and written by Ronald Parker. The film was shot on location throughout Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Plot

On the island of Malau, marine biologist Jack Ellway studies the effect of seismic activity on the area's marine life. A string of mysterious drownings soon turns their research project into a beachfront disaster as Jack learns that a nearby underwater trench is home to a family of giant amphibians that have mutated after prolonged exposure to buried pesticides. As Jack and local doctor, Alyson Hart explores the surrounding ocean for the creatures. The military comes and tries to investigate. Jack's son, Brandon, discovers and befriends a baby creature that is able to leave the ocean and walk on land, and the parent creature tries to find the baby and go on a rampage. After its first rampage, the military gets involved and kills the parent. On the next morning, it turns out that there is another parent, and it returns to the ocean with the baby.

Cast

Gargantua was novelized by K. Robert Andreassi, a pseudonym for Keith R.A. DeCandido, and published by Tor Books.

Reception

Gargantua made its television premiere on the same night that one of its rival projects,Godzilla had its theatrical release. Gargantua currently holds a 21% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Julie Carmen was nominated for the ALMA Award in 1999 for her performance in this movie. She was indicated in the category "Outstanding Individual Performance in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series in a Crossover Role".