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An old rundown Roadside Museum that was basically put out of business due to the construction of a super highway turns deadly as the caretaker (Played by Chuck Connors) uses his telekinetic powers to make the attraction’s mannequins come to life and kill innocent tourists. Tanya Roberts also stars in this hunk of late 1970’s horror genre poo-poo.  But nonetheless a fun and enjoyable ride.   The score is engaging and the mannequins make this one worth the viewing.

If you’re looking for one of Roger Corman’s (The King of Schlock) greatest cinematic triumphs, then look no further. I would be remiss if I did not mention that the film’s eloquent dialogue and extraordinary underwater cinematography makes this well worth the 1:02 hour watch. 

By no means should this film be considered a horror classic. It’s political satire with a mythical sea creature tossed in the mix probably just to bring more viewers to the cinema. 

During the onset of Castro’s revolution, an American crook Renzo Caputto (Antony Carbone - the B-List Bogart) agrees to transport a few Cuban Military officials and some of their men off the island along with a Strongbox full of Cuban gold. Also aboard the “Corman” cruise is Renzo’s Heroin dealing/scam-artist girlfriend Mary Belle Monohan (Betsy Jones-Moreland), an undercover American spy “Sparks”Moranja (played by the legendary Robert Towne) and two other sidekicks, one of which only speaks in animal sounds.  
 
Renzo plots out to take these Cuban’s down one by one and keep the treasure for himself. His plan is to blame their deaths on a local-legend Sea creature.  When the “real” monster appears and starts doing its own killing, confusion ensues and Caputto’s plan gets sunk (literally).   

As far as special effects go - there are none.  The monster’s appearance, albeit adorable, seems to have been crafted by discarded mops from the set, some green paint and a few leftover remains from other creatures from Roger’s earlier films.  

One of the best movie lines of the film:

Sparks: “It was dark. I could tell because the sun was going down.”

Now this is weird - after years of not seeing this, I decided to rewatch it on July 1st.  I just found out that Robert Towne ed away on that day.  RIP to a true Hollywood Icon.