| “ | They think I'm insane? They're the ones who are insane! | „ |
| ~ Leopold expresses his scorn for his colleagues. |
Dr. Leopold is the main antagonist of the 1971 horror film Zaat (also known as The Blood Waters of Dr. Z). He is a demented scientist who has discovered a formula to turn humans into fish. He transforms himself into a giant walking catfish to take revenge on his colleagues for stripping him of his tenure.
He was portrayed by Marshall Grauer.
Personality[]
Leopold's personality is that of a typical mad scientist. He is very determined, having worked in a laboratory by himself for over twenty years, and will not let any setbacks get in his way. He is also very ambitious, as he wants to conquer the world, and is willing to mutate himself into a fish to do this. He also seems very prideful and does not forget a grudge, as he remembers in detail the scientists who scoffed at his work and ruined his career.
He also seems to have some contempt for humanity in general, as he seems scornful of the way they fear fish that they don't understand, like sharks.
It is believed by some viewers that he may be an ex-Nazi, but this is not actually stated in the film. He is said to have changed his name, and to have been employed in the United States during World War II, but nothing beyond this is revealed.
Biography[]
Dr. Leopold graduated with honors from M.I.T. and was then employed as a marine biologist and radiologist in the 1940s. He discovered two new elements, which he believed would form a compound that can turn humans into fish. However, he fell out of favor with his colleagues when he requested that he be given human research subjects for his experiments. His colleagues scoffed at his theories, and he lost his position as a result. Leopold became bent on revenge, and worked in an isolated laboratory for many years to perfect his formula. He formed a mad plot to mutate much of Florida's sea life into an aquatic army, which he would use to take over the world.
After many years, Leopold tested his formula on himself, transforming himself into a giant walking catfish. He then released normal walking catfish into rivers and lakes around town, causing the local sheriff to spend a lot of time catching them, and released his Zaat formula into the water supply, mutating much of the sea life and causing many of the townspeople to become ill.
Leopold then tracked down and killed two of his former colleagues. He also decided he needed a mate, and ambushed a woman who was out camping, and brought her back to the laboratory. However, a problem with the equipment caused the apparatus to malfunction, killing the woman despite Leopold's attempts to save her.
Leopold later kidnaps a female scientist who is helping to search for him, and brings her to the lab. He discovered that the sheriff and his assistant were also at the lab, and a fight broke out.
After killing them, he attempted to transform the woman. The results are unclear, as she does not appear to have mutated, but appears to be in a trance. As Leopold hauls two canisters of his formula out to the sea, she follows him. The film ends ambiguously, as Leopold appears to have been shot but not killed.
He appears to have successfully gotten his formula into the sea, thus mutating much of the world's sea life.