Starring Treat Williams, Clifton Powell, Anthony Heald, Kevin J. O'Connor, Famke Janssen, and Wes Studi Directed by Stephen Sommers Rated R, with profanity and violence. Running time 120 minutes We gave this film a rating of 1 out of 10

(Jan. 30, 1998) -- Hollywood loves to crossbreed and produce film hybrids only a mother could love.

The latest is Stephen Sommers Deep Rising a movie that mates The Beast (Peter Benchley's tale of a monster killer squid) and Assault on a Queen (Frank Sinatra's caper about an ocean liner heist).

The result is a half-baked idea about a giant octopus with a very bad attitude and a bunch of mercenaries who plan to rob the safe of a new high-tech cruise ship whose owner wants to scuttle it for the insurance payoff.

And to make sure you know it's an action movie, there are enough explosions to shatter a continent.

The action unfolds amid a storm in the South China Sea, where the Saipan with its cargo of armed torpedoes speeds toward the Argonautica, a cruise ship making its maiden voyage.

Piloting the Saipan is John Finnegan (Treat Williams), a fast-talking, cheeky hustler who asks no questions when he charters his boat, and his mechanic Pantucci (Kevin J. O'Connor), a wacky geek with a smart mouth, and first mate Leila (Una Damon), who's dispensed pretty early on. Their passengers are six thugs led by Wes Studi (who should fire his agent for putting him in this dud). With an assist from someone already on board the Argonautica, they plan to take over the ship and make off with millions.

Meanwhile, passengers enjoy a night of celebration aboard the Argonautica, dancing, entertainment, gambling, tons of food and champagne. And a jewel thief with the improbable name of Trillian (Famke Janssen) attempts to break into the vault and steal whatever she can.

But someone on board (it doesn't take too much brain mileage to figure out exactly who) tampers with the ship's computer and shuts down the vessel. Dead in the water, it's easy prey for creatures of the deep who swim from the sea's bottom and crash into the hull.

With special effects reminiscent of The Poseidon Adventure, people, furniture, food, fixtures all tumble together in deadly confusion. But by the time the Saipan arrives, its own hull damaged from running over a lifeboat , no one seems to be on board. Just blood. Lots and lots of blood.

There are three survivors, Trillian, the Captain (Derrick O'Connor) and Canton (Anthony Heald), the ship's owner.

One by one, as is the formula for this sort of thing, the bad guys are picked off by octopus creatures, and Finnegan and friends frantically try to save their own lives.

To the credit of the filmmakers, what little suspense there it is heightened by not showing the creatures too early in the movie. But so much of the action, and horror , is predictable, silly and purely gratuitous.

There is a cute ending, but not cute enough to make you glad you saw the movie.

Given the material (the script was written by Sommers) the cast does an able job. Williams is properly glib, O'Connor adds a sometimes forced comic relief, Heald provides the usual smarmy and untrustworthy character he does so well, and Studi is intense. Djimon Hounsou, who won critical acclaim for his portrayal of the kidnapped African Cinque in Stephen Spielberg's Amistad, has a bit part as a mercenary. He, too, should fire his agent.

Deep Rising is a Hollywood Pictures release, produced by Laurence Mark and John Baldecchi. The movie is rated R for excessive violence and gore.