Wuchak
Written on 2/20/2025
**_Beautiful Claudia Jennings in a Southern swamp_**
In the remote bayou of the Caddo Lake region of eastern Texas, near the border of Louisiana, a redheaded āswamp ratā (Jennings) is accused of murder and so the sheriff and deputy, along with men from the victimās family, venture into the deep swamp to get her.
āGator Baitā (1973) is an indie made by the same husband/wife team behind āHitchhikersā from the year prior. It was inspired by the success of āDeliveranceā and obviously made as a showcase for Claudia. Her beauty is nicely captured without getting disrespectful. The authentic bayou locations are also a highlight, along with the wildlife. Unfortunately, the story isnāt as compelling as āDeliveranceā and the father/son cops are a little too hammy, but thereās quite a bit of action.
Petite brunette Janit Baldwin plays the protagonistās sister, Julie. Thereās a gem of a small scene involving her with several kittens, along with the kid brother and mother cat. Janet was attractive in a unique, winsome way as observed in the Columbo episode "Swan Song" from the next year; and would go on to play a nerdy girl in the nigh excellent āHumongousā nine years later. Her āBā career lasted a dozen years between 1972-1984.
Speaking of āBā careers, Claudiaās lasted throughout the 70s when she was in her 20s, but a fatal vehicular accident in Malibu, 1979, put an end to any further possibilities at the age of 29. Thankfully, we have movies like this by which to remember her.
I shouldnāt fail to mention redhead Kacie Kippenbrock, who also appears on the feminine front in a gloried cameo as Laura Lee Bracken.
If you like flicks about yokels like this, try "Baker County, USAā (aka āTrapped) from nine years later, which is arguably on the same level as āDeliverance.ā āSouthern Comfortā was no doubt influenced by it (of which Iām not the biggest fan, but itās aāright).
It runs 1 hour, 27 minutes, and was shot mostly in Uncertain, Texas, which is on Caddo Lake near the border of northwest Louisiana, a 50-minutes drive northwest of Shreveport. Thibodaux, Louisiana, is also listed for additional shooting, which is about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans.
GRADE: B-
