'Gator Bait (1974)

This is the Deep South y'all. No, this isn't "Deliverance", this before "The Dukes of Hazzard", if you're in gator country, you're "'Gator Bait" if you are not prepared. Desiree (Claudia Jennings,1949- 79)is a barefoot poacher who knows the swamps since birth. She and her family have trapped alligators for years. Then a sheriff deputy and friend catches her in the act. They would chase her, and she outsmarted them. She sets a trap. They get it. The deputy gets freaked out. He shoots the snakes, but he accidentally shoots the friend. His father happen to be the sheriff. He lies to his father about the situation, and send the father of the deceased to look for her. The search party looks for Desiree. They found out the place where she lives, and attacked her brother and sister. After they killed the sister, it's a all out war on the search party. But secrets are exposed when the truth is out. And Desiree shows no mercy! Revenge is sweet. When you mess with Desiree, you're 'GATOR BAIT! This is a exploitation that is nice to see. Only the mature should watch it. If you like "Deliverance", you'll this movie as well. 3 out of 5 stars

A young deputy by the name of "Billy" (Clyde Ventura) and a friend "Ben Bracken" (Ben Sebastian) are in the swamps lying in wait for a young vixen named "Desiree Thibodeau" (Claudia Jennings) to come along and examine her illegal alligator traps. They figure that if they can catch her red-handed she will agree to have sex with them rather than go to jail. But what they don't figure upon is her ability to evade arrest even though they have a more powerful boat than she does. Not only that but she is also quite resourceful when cornered as she throws some venomous snakes into their boat to aid in her escape. Unfortunately, while Deputy Billy is busy shooting the snakes he accidentally shoots and kills Ben. Not wanting to risk retaliation by the Bracken clan he tells his father, "Sheriff Joe Bob Thomas" (Bill Thurman) that Desiree killed Ben. This results in the sheriff, the deputy and three members from the Bracken clan to venture deep into the swamp to get Desiree. In the process they kill Desiree's sister, "Julie" (Janit Baldwin) which turns Desiree from being the hunted into the hunter. Anyway, so much for the plot. What I liked most about the film was the presence of Claudia Jennings (1970 Playmate of the Year) and the bayou scenery. What I didn't care for were some of the scenes involving the Bracken clan which were too stereotypical and over-the-top. It's one thing to depict a family as uncouth or undisciplined. But the scene where one of the young men tries to rape his sister was simply not necessary. At any rate, while the film managed to keep my attention for the most part, I found it to be a bit too simple and crude for my tastes.

The late Claudia Jennings is in fine form here, displaying all that sexuality and screen presence that made her one of the queens of drive-in pictures in the 1970s. Totally rocking a loose top and a pair of Daisy Duke shorts, she proves to be extremely easy to watch playing Desiree, a 'gator poacher in the Louisiana swamps with a loving sister, Julie (Janit Baldwin, very cute as always) and brother, Big T (Tracy Sebastian). Desiree ends up accused of something she didn't do and is pursued by local cops and an enraged local hick family led by burly and bearded T.J. (Sam Gilman). Naturally, they underestimate her cunning and she soon enough turns the tables on them. The brainchild of filmmaking duo Ferd and Beverly Sebastian, "'Gator Bait" is simply exquisite trash. Shameless, sordid, super trash. The characters are comfortably stereotypical, with Desirees' pursuers a mindless, horny bunch so damn ugly they probably break every mirror they look into. The acting may not have been destined to merit any Oscar contention, but it's still perfectly fine for the kind of movie this is. Gilman, and Douglas Dirkson and Don Baldwin as his creepy sons, make for fun antagonists, with the always welcome Bill Thurman in the role of the morally compromised but not purely evil lawman. His is the most interesting role in the film, other than that of Desiree. Jennings is extremely striking as this primal sort of gal, and the Sebastians make sure to film her from every leering angle imaginable. The setting is very effective, with wilderness as far as the eye can see; the predictable but entertaining story works as a mixture of the later films "First Blood" and "Southern Comfort". The music has lots of flavour to it, with Desirees' theme song rating as a standout. The pacing is impressive as things race right along, and there are some well done chases through the swamp. All things considered, this is a good bet for exploitation lovers, although the film does get very nasty in terms of violence perpetrated against a particular character. You can hardly blame Desiree for getting as mad as she gets, and enjoy every bit of her revenge. Well worth watching. Followed by a sequel 14 years later. Eight out of 10.

This film was ineptly directed, badly acted and poorly written. It was artless junk, populated exclusively by moronic and unpleasant characters. But the most depressing thought that crossed my mind while I was watching this film is that, unfortunately, grade-Z exploitationers like this often develop a cult reputation, just because they are so bad and sleazy and amateurish. Any smart viewer will know better, of course.