Night Tide (1963)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Michael G

  
  Dennis Hopper plays a combination of the world's biggest rube and possibly the world's most annoyingly desperate sailor who falls for a girl who may or may not be a psychopathic mermaid. The cinematography has a certain charm and I like Night Tide for that reason alone, but… More
  Dennis Hopper plays a combination of the world's biggest rube and possibly the world's most annoyingly desperate sailor who falls for a girl who may or may not be a psychopathic mermaid. The cinematography has a certain charm and I like Night Tide for that reason alone, but the dialogue and story are cheesy and forced. The score was enjoyable in a weird way, but it definitely didn't fit this movie. The massage scene was unintentionally hilarious and full of double entendres. Do not watch this movie before 1AM on a Friday or Saturday night for the full effect. If nothing else it sets a reasonably great atmosphere. Don't expect anything and you may enjoy it.

• Eric B

  
  A modest little film noir about a sailor falling for a sideshow mermaid who may or may not be the real item. It's easy to have affection for "Night Tide" (which achieves quite a bit with obviously limited resources) but, unfortunately, it has a humdrum ending which… More
  A modest little film noir about a sailor falling for a sideshow mermaid who may or may not be the real item. It's easy to have affection for "Night Tide" (which achieves quite a bit with obviously limited resources) but, unfortunately, it has a humdrum ending which wrecks all the preceding story's accumulated spookiness. It also does an annoyingly poor job of tying up one loose end (an older woman who mysteriously stalks the mermaid girl). This simple tale seems longer than it needs to be, even at just 84 minutes, but any story about a decrepit, seaside carnival is bound to have plenty of atmosphere. And the secondary characters aren't just placeholders, but add some engaging quirks of their own. Most people who seek out this film will be motivated by seeing Dennis Hopper in an early role, but his performance is rather indistinct and just repeats the same note of vague, restrained confusion. No flashy anger, and little of his usual intensity. If the lead had been a forgotten actor with talent, the film would be no worse. Incidentally, I believe Flixster posts an incorrect release date: The Web suggests "Night Tide" was released in 1961, not 1963.