Night Tide

Night Tide is a 1961 thriller film, written and directed by Curtis Harrington and starring Dennis Hopper. It was filmed in 1960, premiered in 1961, but was held up from general release until 1963. The film was restored by the Academy Film Archive in 2007.

Plot summary

Seaman Johnny Drake (Dennis Hopper), on shore leave, meets Mora (Linda Lawson) in a jazz club. She makes her living appearing as a mermaid in a sideshow attraction at the marina, operated by Captain Murdock (Gavin Muir). Mora, who lives in an apartment above the marina merry-go-round, and Johnny fall for each other. Everyone around them is wary of the romance, as her previous two lovers have died mysteriously.

Mora believes she is a descendant of the Sirens, mythic sea creatures who lure sailors to their deaths. From time to time a mysterious and seemingly sinister woman (Marjorie Cameron) appears and frightens Mora. She believes the woman is the leader of the mermaids, calling Mora to fulfill her destiny. Mora's origins seem to be driving her to commit murder by the full moon. Johnny is unable to believe his lover is capable of murder, but Mora herself seems more certain. During a diving trip on the day of the full moon, Mora cuts Johnny's breathing tube and he is forced to surface, leaving her below, where she swims away into the shadows to die herself in order to save Johnny from future harm.