Zaat
Z or Hydra, is a 1975 cult movie that gained significant exposure when it was used in an episode of movie-mocking television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 in May 1999.
Production
Jacksonville, Florida resident Don Barton co-wrote, directed and produced the film, which was shot during one month in 1971 on a $75,000 budget. Scenes were filmed at Rainbow Springs, Green Cove Springs, Switzerland, Florida and Marineland of Florida.
Upon its release in 1975, the movie was shown in Jacksonville and theatres in mostly southern states. The movie was shown on July 11, 2009 in Atlanta then in Jacksonville on October 28, 2009, reviving interest in the old horror flick.
Plot synopsis
Beginning
The film begins with Nazi mad scientist Dr. Kurt Leopold (it is revealed later in the film that he graduated cum laude from MIT in 1934) in his lab, where he has lived alone for about twenty years.
He is comtemplating about his former colleagues' laughter at his formula (described as "ZaAt" — read Z-sub-A, A-sub-T — but which he simply calls "Zaat"). He proceeds to climb into a basket above a tank of Zaat and lowers himself in.
After a few minutes, a man-sized catfish-human hybrid creature climbs out of the tank, looks in the mirror, and remarks that it is beautiful what he has done to himself.
His first act of revenge on society that he feels has wronged him is to release several smaller walking catfish around the town's lakes and river (filmed in the St. He then releases Zaat into the local water supply, rendering many of the townspeople ill.
Revenge
Leopold decides to kill the colleagues that laughed at his work.
In his lab, he has a zodiac wheel, which he uses to symbolically record events. On it, he places a picture of one colleague, Maxson, noting that Maxson's days are numbered.
Maxson's wife escapes, although she is in shock from the attack.
Pursuit
After killing Maxson, Leopold discovers a girl who is camping out alone on the shore of the lake. Leopold is not afraid of the dog, however he doesn't wish the girl to be alerted to his presence.
The girl carries on with her business, unconcerned about the barking dog. He knows that he cannot sneak ashore, and he will need to attempt to meet her some other time.
He fastens Ewing's picture on the zodiac wheel, and proceeds to kill Ewing at night in his own house.
His two colleagues now deceased, Leopold returns to the lake where the girl is still camping. She dives into the lake, swimming carefree until suddenly Leopold catches her underwater.
He grabs her ankle, but she manages to struggle loose and desperately tries to reach the surface, with Leopold close behind. Although she manages to reach the surface and scream, her signal for help is futile and short-lived.
Leopold knows that she is camping alone, and there is no one near to help. There he has the advantage because he can breathe underwater, and she cannot.
He swims with her to his lab, even as she struggles in vain to escape.
At the lab, the bikini-clad girl is lying strapped down in a basket next to the large tank of Zaat. Leopold, clamps his clawed hand over her face to silence her and injects the Zaat into her neck.
Leopold smashes some equipment in a fit of rage.
Having calmed down, Leopold goes to the zodiac wheel, and disgustedly snatches her picture off it. He then removes the girl's, now pitiful, outstretched frame lying inert in death and, carrying her body like a rag doll, places it in the vat of acid, where it is totally dissolved.
Interlude
The movie strangely diverts from the storyline for approximately 10-15 minutes to show a lingering scene of the town sheriff Lou, watching a small group of youth playing folk music.
After one of the youth (an acoutistic guitarist) finishes leading the group in a song, the sheriff places them all in the town's jail, presumably for their own protection.
Finale
Leopold attempts to kidnap another mate: his choice is Martha Walsh, the lovely female member of a scientific team sent to investigate the weird happenings in the town (caused by Dr. Leopold takes her to his lab, but two of her companions are waiting there, and Leopold kills them (including the town's sheriff Lou) violently.