Action Cult Classic

A mutated octopus terrorizes a California beach town in this aquatic creature feature.

TENTACLES

It's Turning the Beach ... Into a Buffet!

1977 · 01:42:00 · PG · Action / Adventure / Comedy / Horror / Science Fiction / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

A mutated giant octopus wreaks havoc on a California seaside community.

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Quick Answer

What is Tentacles about?

Tentacles is a 1977 Italy-United States action, adventure, comedy, horror, science fiction, and thriller film directed by Ovidio G. Assonitis about a mutated giant octopus attacking a California seaside community.

Key Facts

Director: Ovidio G. Assonitis
Writers: Steven W. Carabatsos, Jerome Max, Tito Carpi
Release: 1977
Runtime: 1h 42m
Country: Italy, United States of America
Language: English
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Also Known As: Angriff aus der Tiefe, Tentacoli, Tentakel des Todes, 홀리데이 킬러, 텐타콜리

The SassyFlix Take

Tentacles rides the mutant sea monster wave with a giant octopus gnawing its way through Solana Beach and a cast that includes Henry Fonda, John Huston, and Shelley Winters. There’s an underwater tunnel, radio signal mayhem, and a finale featuring killer whales as aquatic avengers. Not your usual seaside vacation.

From the Vault

For anyone who ever thought Jaws could use more tentacles—and a touch of Italian flair.

Why Cult

Mutated Marine Menace

A giant, mutated octopus is the menace du jour, turning Solana Beach into a skeleton-strewn danger zone.

Hollywood Heavyweights

John Huston, Shelley Winters, and Henry Fonda bring serious star power to this Italian-American creature romp.

Killer Whale Showdown

Few monster movie finales deliver quite like a pair of killer whales taking on a giant octopus.

Psychotronic Surrealism

With mutated animals, questionable science, and a bribe-fueled cover-up, this film scores high on psychotronic weirdness.

About This Film

Solana Beach, a seaside tourist resort, has come under attack by a giant octopus, which captures and devours human swimmers and boaters, picking the skeletons clean of flesh and bone marrow. Marine expert Will Gleason (Hopkins) and crusading newspaper reporter Ned Turner (Huston) suspect the construction of an underwater tunnel by the Trojan company, owned by Mr. Whitehead (Fonda). Trojan has been using radio signals that have been "above regulated levels", somehow maddening the octopus and causing it to attack human beings. In the end, the octopus is killed by Gleason's pair of killer whales.

Several people disappear from and at the sea. Their bodies are found gnawed to the skeleton, even the marrow is missing. The scientists have no idea which animal could do such things. Dr. Turner begins to suspect that the company which builds a tunnel beneath the bay might have poisoned the environment and caused an octopus to mutate to giant dimensions.

Film Details

Director Ovidio G. Assonitis

Writers Steven W. Carabatsos, Jerome Max, Tito Carpi

Themes & Keywords

Psychotronic Film Violence Bare Chested Male Cigarette Smoking Corpse Husband Wife Relationship Telephone Call Escape Chase Dead Body Creature Feature Beach Bikini Family Relationships Rescue Brother Sister Relationship

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tentacles about? +

Tentacles is about a mutated giant octopus attacking the seaside community of Solana Beach, California, putting swimmers, boaters, and the local population in grave danger.

When was Tentacles released? +

Tentacles was released in 1977.

Who directed Tentacles? +

Tentacles was directed by Ovidio G. Assonitis.

How long is Tentacles? +

Tentacles has a runtime of 102 minutes.

What genre is Tentacles? +

Tentacles is an action, adventure, comedy, horror, science fiction, and thriller film.

Where can I watch Tentacles? +

Tentacles is available to stream on SassyFlix.

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