Historically, summer is a down time for the horror nation. Long hot days and steamy nights do not provide the best atmosphere for horror fans as they await visions of pumpkins, leaves, and brisk cool autumn air that sit on the horizon. One sub-genre that tides over horror fanatics as they await the fall is that of killer shark films. The primal fear of not being able to see or sense what lurks below the surface of the sea has been sending shivers thru audiences since “Jaws”premiered in 1975. Here are a few more modern shark films that are good the moon comes out to play. summer viewing to hold the horror fan over until the sun starts to set early and
(THE SHALLOWS, 2016)
Nancy (Blake Lively) takes a break from medical school and heads to a remote beach in Mexico for some surfing and reflecting. The sunny spot was a favorite of her dead mother. Shortly after catching a few waves, Nancy spots a dead whale carcass and decides to head for shore swiftly. Upon her attempt a great white bites deep into her leg and Nancy, using her medical knowledge, is able to just make it to a rock two hundred yards from the safety of the shore. Over the next hour Nancy fights for survival as her wound festers, the shark circles, and rescue help gets gloriously gobbled up.
Screenwriter Anthony Jaswinski and director Jaume Collet-Serra present a nearly perfect shark, horror, thriller. Isolation stories are difficult to capture the attention of any viewer. The screen team does a fantastic job of setting the plot thru iPhone messages and chats thus creating empathy for Nancy before she even gets in deep. Short cuts and oblique visuals of the shark are shot perfectly, not giving too much away until the final act. Short cameo shark bait appearances from the supporting cast break up the singular struggle, keeping the audience entertained while we await Nancy’s fate. A drunken beach bum scene steals a laugh thru the tense piece. Blake Lively puts in an award-winning performance. The physical presentation alone is impressive but Lively brings emotional depth to a simple shark tale. “The Shallows” only suffers with a nearly absurd finale which far too often plagues creature survival films. A simpler finish could have put a polish on this fantastic fin film. “The Shallows” is a tense thrill ride that is a great view but will have everyone taking a buddy before they hit the beach.
Scream Score: 8.8/10
(SHARK NIGHT, 2011)
Several college students take to spring break at their friend’s private island family home in Louisiana. What starts out as a blast full of sun, suds, and surf, quickly turns to an aquatic nightmare when one of the group resurfaces from jet skiing minus an arm. A quick rescue mission turns a bad situation into a watery horror show as the lake is infested with man eating sharks. Several attempts to flee and get help are thwarted by the denizens of the deep and their sinister keepers. “Shark Night” is one of those what could have been films. Director David Ellis (Snakes on a Plane, The Final Destination) presents a clean action piece. His life as a former pro-surfer in his youth is on display here as the set pieces on water are carried out to perfection. Nothing special from the cast of eye candy and nor did there need to be. “Shark Night” suffers from two major problems which kept this film from being a sea creature classic. First, the CGI sharks sink in comparison to the several animatronic sharks that were created by the masters at Edge Innovations. Second, the PG-13 rating that cut the fin off this fish absolutely destroys the film. A hard R rating with a bit more raunchy and rabid performances would have played better to the horror audience which the film is geared toward. The complete shame is the waisted twist which is reveled toward the end of the film. A sea town with a shark secret had franchise written all over it. “Shark Night” is a fun film that could have been as sharp as a great white’s tooth but instead ends up as a guppy with dentures.
Scream Score: 6/10
(BAIT, 2012)
A year after a vicious shark attack, which kills his friend, and lover’s brother, Josh (Xavier Samuel) finds himself working at a grocery store. In what can be described as the worst case of bad luck ever, a tsunami rocks the coast causing the store to flood and yes, be infested by more killer sharks. To add to the drama, Josh’s now ex-girlfriend Tina (Sharni Vison, “Your Next”) happens to be picking up some groceries at the time of the tragedy with her new beau. Thru a nice opening sequence, we are introduced to several other flesh bait characters including: a shoplifter whose father comes to arrest her, a heist team, an anal store manager, and some sympathetic employees. Panicked by the threat of another tsunami, which would leave them in a watery grave, the survivors battle time and two killer great whites.
Director Kimble Rendall presents a fun fin film filled with diverse characters and original set pieces. Some will say that the backstory to the bait is cookie cutter, however, it garners emotional depth to the cast fighting for survival. As ridiculous as great whites in a grocery store sounds, the viewer will quickly buy into the plot with the non-stop action which jumps with pacing perfection between two settings inside the same building. As per the normal in shark films, the glancing images play way better than the CGI full shots of the beast. The original and creative kills thru “Bait” set it a step above other frightening fish films. “Bait” is not without flaws, the film jumps from shockingly believable to absurd in the final act and while the backstory of the survivors add depth it definitely could have gone without one or two characters. “Bait” is pure silly shark fun and enjoyable, but it may keep you away from that dream trip to Australia or that late night trip to the grocery store for some goldfishes.
Scream Score: 8.3/10