'Gator Bait

source: 'Gator Bait

Trailer—'Gator Bait

'Gator Bait

Desiree (Claudia Jennings) lives in the swamp with her younger brother, sister, and a bad French accent applied to broken English. The law messes with her and she goes Rambette on them. Indeed, this appears to be a forerunner to "First Blood." I obtained the director's special cut. I will say the transfer was superb considering the quality of film transfers from this era. However my memory seems to recall * scenes that were deleted from this director's edition, especially those involving co-star Janit Baldwin. If I had to do again, I would go with the VHS. Parental Guide: No f-bombs. rape, nudity (Janit Baldwin, Claudia Jennings)

Strange, sexy girl down south (Claudia Jennings)--the subject of tall tales among the horny redneck locals--lives with her sister and tongue-less brother in a small cabin on swampland; after a sloppy deputy shoots his buddy while trying to capture the elusive female, he blames the killing on her, causing the sheriff and the dead kid's dirty brood to go after the girl and her family in vengeance. Paltry low-budgeter for the drive-in market seems to take its cue from the hillbillies in "Deliverance". The mechanics of the plot may be old-hat--but they still work (we want to see these 'good ol' boys' get their comeuppance). But if the swamp atmospherics are captured at all, it was probably by accident. The motorboat action scenes are familiar and unexciting, while the movie's primary emphasis is on rape or the threat of rape. *1/2 from ****

Seems a lot of viewers really don't get movies like GATOR BAIT. It ain't great but it does deliver some back woods fun, with a low budget charm and terrific swamp locations. I'd say the acting is pretty good, especially the redneck family. The film's biggest failing is having Claudia Jennings the star and then mess her all up and never get her clothes off! The nudity comes courtesy of Janit Baldwin and she never looked better than she does here, although her outfits and hair style are completely out of place in the swamps. Also some comments mention rape, well, there is an attempted rape that never gets started before it is halted. This does result in a very unpleasant sequence, but no one gets shot in the stomach ( it's nastier than that ). While the movie has it's flaws ( the screenplay, Jenning's Cajun accent ) it is solid drive in style fun with an authentic, mud strewn setting and crazy, inbred southern rednecks fighting for their lives against an enraged, revenge seeking woman.