The cult classic Zaat (AKA The Blood Waters of Dr. Z) is inexplicably making its way to Blu-ray this month from Film Chest Inc and Cultra. Don Barton’s bizarre creature feature from 1971 highlights the escapades of wacko marine biologist Dr. Leopold (Marshall Grauer) who turns himself into a giant catfish. Alternately hunting down his former colleagues and abducting bikini-clad women to breed with (almost a decade before Humanoids from the Deep), Zaat wreaks havoc (sometimes wearing sneakers) throughout the hippie-filled beaches of Jacksonville, Florida.
This low budget drive-in staple, a hit upon its original release, has a long and troubled video history with multiple edits existing under several alternate titles. Who wouldn’t want to see a monster fish movie called Zaat? Notoriously terrible, the film (in one of its many truncated versions) was skewered on MST3000 and was recently presented in an uncut version on TCM. The film has developed a small, but growing, cult following throughout the years and is finally receiving a special edition release remastered in high definition.
The package is a Blu-ray/DVD combo and features director and crew commentary, original trailer, stills gallery and more. The official release is February 21, but die-hards can get their hands on a copy (with autographed photo from the commentary sessions) from the official website.
