31 Films for Halloween, #28: Night Tide (1961)

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Atmosphere.

"Night Tide" is all about atmosphere. 

The off-beat plot is about sailor Johnny Drake

Played STRIKINGLY handsome young actor named "Dennis Hopper".

who falls for a young girl who plays a fake mermaid at a pier attraction.  But is she more than just a FAKE mermaid?  If you've seen Val Lewton's "The Cat People", it will remind you of that.

Sometimes the staging is almost expressionistic.

The acting and interacting between the principals is impressively effective.  For such a weird topic it does a remarkable job of feeling like a real story happening to real people. And, like "Cat People" it creates an atmosphere masterfully, one which you will remember.

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