It is a great mystery to me how Octaman (1971) was ever made, much less released. The story of a mutated monster octopus (obviously wearing boots) caring for its children in a Mexican lake, one of her children is taken and subjected to vivisection by a scientist, whom she promptly murders. Maybe she. Maybe he. The rubber suit doesn’t give us a clue. I was impressed how a tentacle could be used like a sword, though, although it’s not used with abandon. Maybe that’s too bad.
Another scientist returns, along with a carnival owner and a few assorted others – one might be a mestizo, but who can say, he smiles far too much for being in such a life-threatening situation – and they’re on the hunt for this clumsy, slow monster that somehow keeps taking them by surprise. Her, I mean his weakness? The lone lady of the expedition, who can somehow daze him with her, uh, well she’t not outstandingly beautiful, isn’t flashing cleavage, so what’s motivating this monster anyways? Her personality?
Tricked into being trapped in a cave, the expedition collapses except for the mestizo, who finds a way out and leads them back to their Winnebago-like vehicle, but as they prepare to pile into it and run away, the guy in the rubber suit comes bursting out of the vehicle and assaults them yet again! But he, or she, must be losing stamina as now when she barely touches an expedition member, they fall over but get up a little later, whereas before one lazy slap was good enough to lay them out for good.
I would compare this with the equally dreadful Empire of the Ants (1977), except my Arts Editor and I were unable to finish that one, so technically a comparison would be unfair. Still, I’d have to say that this movie is a true time-waster.
If there’s anything good to say about this movie, I’d have to say the eyes of Octaman (oh, maybe that’s a clue to gender!) were exceptionally striking.
