SHARKTOPUS
(not rated)
MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5)
BY KEVIN CARR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
With a title like “Sharktopus,” do I really need to summarize it? For the record, this film is about a giant shark-octopus hybrid, a “sharktopus,’ if you will. Originally developed by an evil scientist (Eric Roberts) to be a new weapon for the U.S. Navy, the sharktopus escapes and goes rogue. While it attacks the beaches of Mexico, a group of unnecessarily good-looking scientists and a less-attractive news crew try to hunt it down.
WHAT I LIKED
Watching “Sharktopus” is the cinematic equivalent of running to the stop-and-rob in the middle of the night to stock up on junk food. It’s not particularly good – or good for you – but it’s inherently enjoyable and an indulgence in which I partake from time to time.
Legendary producer Roger Corman has been making schlocky gimmick movies before the folks at The Asylum were picking up their first video camera. No hate for The Asylum, of course, but it’s good to see another producer step into the ring for the giant monster movies that run on Syfy on Saturday nights.
“Sharktopus” is a ridiculous film that is a hoot to watch. There’s plenty of jiggle factor for broadcast cable (sadly without any additional items on the home video release), and the premise is just ridiculous enough to make it fun. In the end, it’s nothing but a big, fat B-movie with teeth and tentacles, but were you expecting anything more? After all, this is based on the Italian 80s cheapo flick “Devil Fish,” whose greatest claim to fame was being skewered on “Mystery-Science Theater 3000” in the 90s.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
When it comes to a film with a title like “Sharktopus,” you know there’s going to be plenty of problems with it. The special effects are cheesy as hell, and the CGI animation is good enough to put tentacles on a shark but not good enough to rise above the level of FX quality you’d see on an average episode of “iCarly.”
The acting is terrible, which allows more seasoned actors like Eric Roberts to look brilliant in his role. The rest of the cast – including Pedro from “Napoleon Dynamite” – to resort to head-shaking and awkward hand gestures to punctuate their dialogue.
Everything you suspect about “Sharktopus” is true… for better or for worse.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
Unfortunately, aside from a commentary by Roger Corman and his producer/daughter, there’s no special features on the Blu-ray, though the transfer looks pretty good for a Syfy Original Movie.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Fans of bad cinema.
I am enjoying this movie for exactly the reasons stated by this reviewer