Mega Python vs. Gatoroid
Encyclopedia
Mega Python vs. Gatoroid is a 2011 monster
disaster film
by The Asylum
, directed by Mary Lambert, and starring pop singers Debbie Gibson and Tiffany
. The film premiered theatrically in Texas
and premiered on television on January 29, 2011 on Syfy
in the United States
. The film was released on home video on June 21, 2011.
) and Ben (Patrick Hancock), break into a house and steal dozens of exotic pythons
before setting them free into the Florida
Everglades
. Their actions inadvertently cause the snakes to grow into alarming sizes and threaten the ecosystem, as they kill over 72 alligator
s in a matter of days. Due to the threat of the invasive species, Park Ranger Terry O’Hara (Tiffany
) issues permits to the local hunters to exterminate the pythons – much to Nikki’s dismay. However, the hunters themselves – including Terry’s fiancé Justin (Carey Van Dyke) – are quickly eliminated by the giant snakes. Vowing to avenge her fiancé’s death, Terry and Angie (Kathryn Joosten
) take boxes of anabolic steroids from Angie’s grandson Manny (Chris Neville) and inject them into dead chickens before feeding them to alligators. Among the steroids is an experimental serum that neutralizes muscle growth inhibitors with a side effect of increased aggression. Meanwhile, Nikki and her group set up cameras all over the Everglades to monitor Terry’s activities. They catch and record Terry and Angie feeding the steroid-laced chickens to the alligators.
Several months later, Terry meets Dr. Diego Ortiz (A Martinez
), who warns her that an all-out war between the giant pythons and the mutated alligators in the Everglades has begun. After seeing a python and an alligator battle each other, Diego urges Terry to cancel a fund-raising event that is to be held that night to help restore a nearby estuary
, but his cries fall on deaf ears. As Nikki and her group walk around the forest to plant pheromones, they discover the skeleton of a dead giant python before they are attacked by a giant alligator which eats Gia. On another part of the Everglades, Diego discovers that the alligators have laid hundreds of eggs – all of which are 20-30 times their normal size. He calls Terry and asks her to give him access to explosives to get rid of the eggs, but his request is denied. Flying a helicopter over a swamp, Diego rescues Nikki, but Ben is devoured by an alligator. He offers to fly her to the nearest hospital, but she tells him to bring her to her office immediately. After dropping her off, he returns to the site of the alligator eggs and destroys them with a pack of dynamite. He then finds a cave filled with thousands more eggs and calls Terry, telling her that if she does not evacuate the party nearby, he will call the governor and have him send the National Guard
to the quarry.
At the fund-raising event, Nikki shows up at the VIP tent uninvited, threatening to blackmail Terry with a disc containing footage of her feeding the alligators. This leads to a fight between the two women
that destroys the party. Meanwhile, as Nikki and Terry continue their fight in a swamp, the reptiles crash the event, devouring guest of honor Micky Dolenz
and several other partygoers. Realizing that they will have to work together to stop this threat, Nikki and Terry, along with Angie and Diego, drive to Miami to get help and prevent the reptiles from invading the city, but are too late and Angie is devoured by a python as they flee from the city. Nikki comes up with a plan to save Florida: she plants explosives in the quarry while Terry and Diego fly over Miami in a crop duster and spray pheromones they acquired from Nikki’s office, luring the reptiles to them. However, when their plane crashes on a highway after being hit by a python, Terry takes the remaining bottles of pheromones and drives an abandoned car to lure the reptiles away from the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant
. Back in the cave, Nikki finds herself surrounded by an alligator and hundreds of hatchlings. Terry rescues her by driving her car with a lit container of gasoline toward the alligator. Surrounded by the remaining reptiles around the quarry, the two women lock themselves inside a supply shed, where Nikki admits to Terry that she released the snakes into the Everglades, to Terry's disgust. Diego arrives in a rescue helicopter and picks up Nikki, but is too late to save Terry, who is caught by an alligator and killed with Nikki and Diego helpless to save her. Nikki blows up the quarry, killing all of the reptiles in sight; but the explosion rocks the helicopter, throwing her off as she falls into a swamp. As the helicopter circles back for Nikki while pieces of pythons and alligators rain around her, she is bitten in half by a python head that is still alive (as snake heads can survive for up to an hour).
One year after the incident, Diego cuts a ribbon to inaugurate the O’Hara-Riley Estuary, named in memory of Terry and Nikki.
and the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
in Los Angeles
, California
, which acted as a stand-in setting for Florida.
And, some of the footage was later recycled for "Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus
."
" by Tiffany.
said on his review that the film "did something that other stalwarts of this genre, such as Sharktopus
and Dinocroc vs. Supergator
, did not do: It called attention to how bad, campy, and trashy it was; the actors did everything except wink coyly at the camera." Jared Rasic of CHUD.com gave the film two out of five stars, commenting that "this movie knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to surprise you with any sort of quality element to make the time you spent watching this have meaning."
Monster movie
Monster movie is a name commonly given to movies, which centre on the struggle between human beings and one or more monsters...
disaster film
Disaster film
A disaster film is a film genre that has an impending or ongoing disaster as its subject...
by The Asylum
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
, directed by Mary Lambert, and starring pop singers Debbie Gibson and Tiffany
Tiffany (singer)
Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
. The film premiered theatrically in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and premiered on television on January 29, 2011 on Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The film was released on home video on June 21, 2011.
Plot
A group of animal activists, consisting of Dr. Nikki Riley (Debbie Gibson), Gia (Arden ChoArden Cho
Arden Cho is a Korean American model and actress who also displays her singing and songwriting talents on YouTube. In 2010, Cho was the model for the cosmetic brand Clinique's advertisement campaign in Asia. She has appeared in supporting roles in the television shows CSI: NY and Pretty Little...
) and Ben (Patrick Hancock), break into a house and steal dozens of exotic pythons
Python (genus)
Python, from the Greek word , is a genus of non-venomous pythons found in Africa, Asia and Australia. Currently, 7 species are recognised. A member of this group, P. reticulatus, is among the longest snakes known.-Geographic range:...
before setting them free into the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
. Their actions inadvertently cause the snakes to grow into alarming sizes and threaten the ecosystem, as they kill over 72 alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s in a matter of days. Due to the threat of the invasive species, Park Ranger Terry O’Hara (Tiffany
Tiffany (singer)
Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
) issues permits to the local hunters to exterminate the pythons – much to Nikki’s dismay. However, the hunters themselves – including Terry’s fiancé Justin (Carey Van Dyke) – are quickly eliminated by the giant snakes. Vowing to avenge her fiancé’s death, Terry and Angie (Kathryn Joosten
Kathryn Joosten
Kathryn Joosten is an American television actress best known for her regular role as Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives and for her recurring role in The West Wing as Dolores Landingham.-Early life:...
) take boxes of anabolic steroids from Angie’s grandson Manny (Chris Neville) and inject them into dead chickens before feeding them to alligators. Among the steroids is an experimental serum that neutralizes muscle growth inhibitors with a side effect of increased aggression. Meanwhile, Nikki and her group set up cameras all over the Everglades to monitor Terry’s activities. They catch and record Terry and Angie feeding the steroid-laced chickens to the alligators.
Several months later, Terry meets Dr. Diego Ortiz (A Martinez
A Martinez
Adolfo Larrue Martinez, III , better known as A Martinez, is an American actor and singer with roles in the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara and the primetime dramas L.A. Law and Profiler.-Early life:...
), who warns her that an all-out war between the giant pythons and the mutated alligators in the Everglades has begun. After seeing a python and an alligator battle each other, Diego urges Terry to cancel a fund-raising event that is to be held that night to help restore a nearby estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, but his cries fall on deaf ears. As Nikki and her group walk around the forest to plant pheromones, they discover the skeleton of a dead giant python before they are attacked by a giant alligator which eats Gia. On another part of the Everglades, Diego discovers that the alligators have laid hundreds of eggs – all of which are 20-30 times their normal size. He calls Terry and asks her to give him access to explosives to get rid of the eggs, but his request is denied. Flying a helicopter over a swamp, Diego rescues Nikki, but Ben is devoured by an alligator. He offers to fly her to the nearest hospital, but she tells him to bring her to her office immediately. After dropping her off, he returns to the site of the alligator eggs and destroys them with a pack of dynamite. He then finds a cave filled with thousands more eggs and calls Terry, telling her that if she does not evacuate the party nearby, he will call the governor and have him send the National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
to the quarry.
At the fund-raising event, Nikki shows up at the VIP tent uninvited, threatening to blackmail Terry with a disc containing footage of her feeding the alligators. This leads to a fight between the two women
Catfight
Catfight is a term for an altercation between two women, typically involving scratching, slapping, hair-pulling, and shirt-shredding as opposed to punching or wrestling . However, the term is not exclusively used to indicate a fight between women, and many formal definitions do not invoke gender...
that destroys the party. Meanwhile, as Nikki and Terry continue their fight in a swamp, the reptiles crash the event, devouring guest of honor Micky Dolenz
Micky Dolenz
George Michael "Micky" Dolenz, Jr. is an American actor, musician, television director, radio personality and theater director, best known as a member of the 1960s made-for-television band The Monkees.-Biography:...
and several other partygoers. Realizing that they will have to work together to stop this threat, Nikki and Terry, along with Angie and Diego, drive to Miami to get help and prevent the reptiles from invading the city, but are too late and Angie is devoured by a python as they flee from the city. Nikki comes up with a plan to save Florida: she plants explosives in the quarry while Terry and Diego fly over Miami in a crop duster and spray pheromones they acquired from Nikki’s office, luring the reptiles to them. However, when their plane crashes on a highway after being hit by a python, Terry takes the remaining bottles of pheromones and drives an abandoned car to lure the reptiles away from the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant
Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station
Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station is a twin reactor nuclear power station located on a 3,300-acre site 2 miles east of Homestead, Florida, United States, next to Biscayne National Park located about 25 miles south of Miami, Florida near the southernmost edge of Miami-Dade...
. Back in the cave, Nikki finds herself surrounded by an alligator and hundreds of hatchlings. Terry rescues her by driving her car with a lit container of gasoline toward the alligator. Surrounded by the remaining reptiles around the quarry, the two women lock themselves inside a supply shed, where Nikki admits to Terry that she released the snakes into the Everglades, to Terry's disgust. Diego arrives in a rescue helicopter and picks up Nikki, but is too late to save Terry, who is caught by an alligator and killed with Nikki and Diego helpless to save her. Nikki blows up the quarry, killing all of the reptiles in sight; but the explosion rocks the helicopter, throwing her off as she falls into a swamp. As the helicopter circles back for Nikki while pieces of pythons and alligators rain around her, she is bitten in half by a python head that is still alive (as snake heads can survive for up to an hour).
One year after the incident, Diego cuts a ribbon to inaugurate the O’Hara-Riley Estuary, named in memory of Terry and Nikki.
Cast
- Debbie Gibson as Dr. Nikki Riley
- TiffanyTiffany (singer)Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
as Park Ranger Terry O'Hara - A MartinezA MartinezAdolfo Larrue Martinez, III , better known as A Martinez, is an American actor and singer with roles in the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara and the primetime dramas L.A. Law and Profiler.-Early life:...
as Dr. Diego Ortiz - Kathryn JoostenKathryn JoostenKathryn Joosten is an American television actress best known for her regular role as Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives and for her recurring role in The West Wing as Dolores Landingham.-Early life:...
as Angie - Kevin M. Horton as RJ Cupelli
- Micky DolenzMicky DolenzGeorge Michael "Micky" Dolenz, Jr. is an American actor, musician, television director, radio personality and theater director, best known as a member of the 1960s made-for-television band The Monkees.-Biography:...
as Himself - Carey Van Dyke as Justin
- Arden ChoArden ChoArden Cho is a Korean American model and actress who also displays her singing and songwriting talents on YouTube. In 2010, Cho was the model for the cosmetic brand Clinique's advertisement campaign in Asia. She has appeared in supporting roles in the television shows CSI: NY and Pretty Little...
as Gia - Patrick Hancock as Ben
- Kristen WilsonKristen Wilson (actress)Kristen Wilson is an American actress.-Early life:Wilson was born and raised in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, near Boston. She was adopted as a child. She trained as a dancer there and worked with the Boston Ballet for four years...
as Barbara Fine - Vanessa Claire SmithVanessa Claire SmithVanessa Claire Smith is an award-winning actress living and working in Los Angeles, California.-Background and education:Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Vanessa Claire Smith attended Webster Conservatory for the Performing Arts in St. Louis, Missouri...
as Contrary Mary - Chris Neville as Manny
- Jay BeyersJay Beyers-Early life:Jay Beyers was raised in the rural community of North Liberty, Indiana by his mother Mary Ellen Smith until he moved with his father Jeff Beyers when he became a teenager.-Acting career:...
as Matredee Martin - Harmony Blossom as a girl at the party
- Kaiwi Lyman as Tom
- Kylan James as Jordan
- Timmy McFunn as Morgan
- Jeff DuJardin as Jack
- Jack N. Harding as Hank
- Robert R. ShaferRobert R. ShaferRobert Shafer is an American actor who has amassed a substantial cult-following for having played Officer Joe Vickers in the 1989 horror-comedy Psycho Cop and the sequel Psycho Cop 2. Shafer, sometimes credited as Bobby Ray Shafer, is best known for playing Bob Vance on The Office...
as Zeke - Travis Seaborn as Jackson
- Tommy Lukasewicz as Christopher
Production
The film was shot at Griffith ParkGriffith Park
Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America...
and the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 127 acres , is an arboretum, botanical garden, and historical site nestled into hills near the San Gabriel Mountains, at 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, which acted as a stand-in setting for Florida.
And, some of the footage was later recycled for "Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus
Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus
Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus is a monster disaster film by The Asylum, released on December 21, 2010 in the United States. The film stars Jaleel White, Gary Stretch, Robert Picardo, Dylan Vox, and Sarah Lieving....
."
Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack features the songs "Snake Charmer" by Debbie Gibson and "SerpentineSerpentine (song)
"Serpentine" is a song by American female artist Tiffany, co-written with Chris Donohue and released in January 2011 as a digital download single...
" by Tiffany.
Reception
Mega Python vs. Gatoroid has been panned by critics. Ken Tucker of Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
said on his review that the film "did something that other stalwarts of this genre, such as Sharktopus
Sharktopus
Sharktopus is a 2010 American science fiction film directed by Declan O'Brien, starring Eric Roberts. It is a Syfy production.-Plot:The U.S. Navy commissions a group known as "Blue Water" to genetically engineer a half-shark, half-octopus for combat. During a demonstration off of Santa Monica, the...
and Dinocroc vs. Supergator
Dinocroc vs. Supergator
Dinocroc vs. Supergator is a 2010 television film that premiered on Syfy on June 26, 2010. This is one of David Carradine's final performances. The film was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 12, 2011.-Plot:...
, did not do: It called attention to how bad, campy, and trashy it was; the actors did everything except wink coyly at the camera." Jared Rasic of CHUD.com gave the film two out of five stars, commenting that "this movie knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to surprise you with any sort of quality element to make the time you spent watching this have meaning."
See also
- Mega Shark Versus Giant OctopusMega Shark Versus Giant OctopusMega Shark Versus Giant Octopus is a monster/disaster film by The Asylum, released on May 19, 2009, in the United States and on August 7, 2009, in the United Kingdom. It was directed by Ace Hannah and stars singer Debbie Gibson and actor Lorenzo Lamas...
- A 2009 monster disaster film by The Asylum starring Debbie Gibson.- Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus - the 2010 sequel. Though Gibson does not star in it, an autographed picture of her is shown in one scene.
- Mega PiranhaMega PiranhaMega Piranha is a 2010 science fiction disaster film produced by The Asylum.It was directed by Eric Forsberg and stars Tiffany, Paul Logan and Barry Williams...
- A 2010 monster disaster film by The Asylum starring Tiffany. - List of killer crocodile films
External links
- Mega Python vs. Gatoroid at SyfySyfySyfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
.com