Night Tide 1961 starring Dennis Hopper

Before Easy Rider made Dennis Hopper the face of rebellious cinema, he dipped his toes—quite literally—into murky, surreal waters in Night Tide (1961), a dreamy psychological horror film that’s more eerie poetry than monster schlock. Directed by Curtis Harrington, this moody gem follows a lonely sailor (Hopper) who falls head-over-combat-boots for a mysterious woman working as a sideshow mermaid… who may or may not be luring men to their doom.

Set against the shadowy, carnival-lined coast of Venice Beach, California, Night Tide is like if Carnival of Souls and Creature from the Black Lagoon had a slow-burning, existential love child. Think atmosphere over jump scares, mystery over gore, and weird vibes over answers. It’s noir-meets-folklore with a touch of beatnik philosophy. Also: fog. Lots of fog.

If you like your horror tinged with melancholy, shot in haunting black-and-white, and starring a pre-counterculture icon wandering through a Lynchian beach town, then Night Tide is your tide to catch. 🌑🌫️