Year: 1997
Runtime: 82 mins
Language: English
Director: Charles Band
Deformed. Depraved. Deadly. Dr. Lorca, an eccentric collector of bizarre biological specimens, has just “acquired” his most monstrous catch—a mutant born of toxic sewage. When the creature’s original owner demands its return, the confrontation is cut short as the mutant springs to life, spawning an angry, oozing swarm of ferocious freaks.
Get a spoiler-free look at Hideous! (1997) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the murky underbelly of a world where exotic creatures change hands like rare art, a new horror emerges from the sludge of a city’s forgotten sewage. Dr. Emilio Lorca, an eccentric scientist‑collector, has just acquired a grotesque, mutating specimen that bears the scars of its toxic birth. The creature’s very existence hints at secrets that should have remained buried, and its original owner’s sudden demand for its return promises a collision of obsession and unease.
Among those drawn to the specimen’s dark allure are Martin, a skeptical water‑sanitation worker whose routine discovery sets the wheels in motion, and Belinda Yost, a savvy dealer of oddities who thrives on the thrill of the unknown. Their uneasy partnership is shadowed by Elvina Shaw, a nervous receptionist whose inadvertent actions keep the delicate balance teetering, and Sheila, an ambitious assistant whose loyalty to Lorca is both fierce and unsettling. Together they navigate a clandestine market where science, commerce, and curiosity intersect in unsettling ways.
The atmosphere hums with a blend of gritty realism and macabre wonder, as corporate executives, desperate collectors, and relentless detectives orbit the same poisonous epicenter. Each character brings a distinct blend of greed, curiosity, and dread, underscoring a world where the line between discovery and monstrosity blurs with every whispered transaction. The tone is unmistakably claustrophobic and eerie, inviting the audience to feel the weight of every shadowed corridor and the faint, unsteady pulse of something alive within the jars.
As the strange mutant begins to reveal its true nature, the fragile alliances forged in the darkness start to strain. The promise of uncharted terror hangs heavy, suggesting that the true danger may not just be the creature itself, but the human hunger that summons it.
Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:36
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Fast-paced, grotesque monster movies where greed unleashes bloody pandemonium.If you liked the fast-paced, grotesque monster mayhem of Hideous!, you'll enjoy these movies. This collection features stories where greed and ambition unleash deadly creatures, resulting in frantic survival scenarios, chaotic action, and a tense, paranoid atmosphere typical of the best creature features.
Stories in this thread typically follow a 'heist-gone-wrong' or 'experiment-escapes' structure. A group of morally dubious characters, driven by avarice or scientific hubris, inadvertently unleashes a monstrous threat. The narrative then pivots to a frantic, high-stakes survival scenario, often in an isolated location, where the characters are picked off one by one amidst escalating chaos and betrayals.
These films are grouped together by their shared high-intensity, fast-paced energy and their focus on monstrous threats born from human folly. They deliver a specific mix of tense action, grotesque visuals, and a cynical view of human nature, creating a thrilling and unsettling experience.
Horror stories where the menace survives the credits, leaving you unsettled.Fans of the unsettling, unresolved ending in Hideous! will find more to love here. This selection curates horror movies where the final scene suggests the threat persists, leaving audiences with a lingering sense of dread and the chilling implication that the story isn't truly over.
The defining pattern is an ending that subverts the classic 'monster is defeated' resolution. Instead of catharsis, the conclusion offers ambiguity—a hint that the creature survives, the evil lingers, or the cycle of violence is poised to repeat. This narrative choice prioritizes lasting mood over plot resolution, leaving the audience in a state of anxious uncertainty.
These films are united by their deliberate choice to end on a note of unresolved threat. This shared structural and emotional beat creates a specific, thought-provoking viewing experience focused on lingering fear rather than closure, making them perfect for those who enjoy being left unsettled.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Hideous! in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Hideous! is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Hideous!, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Hideous! with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Hideous!. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Hideous!: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Hideous! that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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