Alligator 2: The Mutation

"It crashed out of the sewers... now there's hell to pay!"

1991 1h 32m EN

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4.9

SKIP

★4.9TMDB · 116

HorrorAction

Synopsis

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A giant mutated alligator runs riot in a small town after the sewer system washes it into a lake.

“It crashed out of the sewers... now there's hell to pay!”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Joseph Bologna
David Hodges
Dee Wallace
Christine Hodges
Richard Lynch
Hawkins
Woody Brown
Rich Harmon
Holly Gagnier
Sheri Anderson
Bill Daily
Mayor Anderson
Steve Railsback
Vinnie Brown
Brock Peters
Chief Speed

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jon Hess
Writers: Curt Allen
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $3.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

35 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Alligator Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jon Hess, shot by Joseph Mangine. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jack K. Tillar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Marshall Harvey shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Joseph Bologna and Dee Wallace and Richard Lynch carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "It crashed out of the sewers... now there's hell to pay!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jon Hess directs. Joseph Mangine behind the camera. Jack K. Tillar scores. Marshall Harvey cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $3.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
235 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Part of the "Alligator Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Jon Hess, shot by Joseph Mangine. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Jack K. Tillar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Marshall Harvey shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Joseph Bologna and Dee Wallace and Richard Lynch carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "It crashed out of the sewers... now there's hell to pay!".
9IMDB entry: tt0101309 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Joseph Mangine
Original score: Jack K. Tillar
Editing: Marshall Harvey
Production design: George Costello
Makeup / hair: Jim Gillespie
Sound: Paul Schremp
Stunt coordinator: BJ Davis
Runtime: 92 min · 1h 32m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $3,000,000
Original language: EN
IMDB: Alligator 2: The Mutation (1991)

Part of

Alligator Collection

An early 1980s monster movie film series featuring a deadly giant alligator that kills human beings.

Also by

Jon Hess

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Gimly2018-02-14
★ 5/10
Not so much a sequel as a parallel almost-remake. Alligator 2: The Mutation isn't as bad as I was expecting it to be, but given that I'd literally just watched the entire thing done better in every way only a few hours earlier in the first Alligator, it isn't exactly a success either. Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole.
Wuchak2026-05-31
★ 6/10
Derivative sequel materializes over a decade later This is a retread of the original 1980 film with different characters and actors. Going by shooting dates (rather than release dates), there’s a ten-year gap between the two, shy of one month. It borrows from the first movie, but also includes elements of “Jaws,” “Humanoids from the Deep” and “C.H.U.D.” While it’s the least of ’em, it’s entertaining enough to watch if you like the others. Brunette Holly Gagnier is a highlight as Roger Healey’s daughter and just as notable as redhead Robin Riker in the first flick. Unfortunately, not enough is done with her and the director didn’t know how to photograph women, as was effectively done with Robin. Dee Wallace is also on hand as the protagonist’s wife while Tania Mejia is worth a mention in a bit part as Gina. The inclusion of the Latino gang leader (Julian Reye) and his relationship with the lead detective (Joseph Bologna) is an interesting original bit. Meanwhile Richard Lynch hams it up as a big-game crocagator hunter. It runs 1h 34m and was shot in Mar 1990 in Los Angeles with Echo Park Lake standing in for the fictitious Regent Park. GRADE: B-/C+