With the Highly anticipated film The Shallows hitting theaters this Friday. I have put together a small list of marine terrors to get your blood pumping!
5. 12 DAYS OF TERROR
Discovery 2004 Color 86 Mins. Horror/Drama Colling Egglesfield, Mark Dexter, Jenna Harrison, Colin Stinton and John Rhys Davies star.
Written by Jeffrey Rainer
Directed by Jack Sholder
Rated PG-13 for violence and gore.
This based on a true story TV movie has more umph than you might expect. In addition to having some very attractive guys 12 days of Terror is always engaging and at times pretty darn suspenseful. The movie focuses on the 12 days of terror in July 1916 when a great white shark went on a killing spree on the shores of NJ. Being from Nj myself and having heard the stories and seen the places I was impressed at how accurate the depiction was. Although limited by it's ultra low budget, it's a discovery channel movie of the week for gods sakes. 12 Days of Terror still packs enough punch to rise above most of the subgenre's goofy elements. But ultimately that big plastic shark is only scary sometimes. And best of all it's streaming on Netflix.***.25/5
4. THE REEF
Lightning 2010 Color 94 Mins. Horror/Thriller Adrienne Pickering and Damian Walshe-Howling star.
Written and Directed by Andrew Traucki
Rated R for language, violence and gore.
A Great white sharks takes aim on a group of friends when their boat capsizes. The Reef has some serious chills throughout. Tautly directed and with strong performances the movie manages to rise above it's clichéd concept to give us something unique and refreshing. A serious shark movie that doesn't stop. ***.5/5
3. DEEP B;LUE SEA
Warner Bros. 1999 Color 105 Mins. Horror/Sci-Fi/Action Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J, Michael Rappaport and Stellan Skarsgard star.
Written by Duncan Kennedy
Directed by Renny Harlin
Rated R for language, violence and gore.
Renny Harlin burst onto the scene in the 80's with the "MTV Nightmare" Nightmare on Elm st. 4. And I've been a fan of him ever since, Even the worst of his movies are always entertaining and possess this kinetic, creative energy oozing through every gorgeous frame. Deep Blue Sea is no different. When it arrived in the summer of 1999 I remember seeing it opening night and despite some truly goofy stuff I found myself on the edge of my seat with my feet up on the chair. The movie centers on a group of scientists trying to cure Alzheimer's who genetically enhance the brains of sharks. Well the results are expectedly bad for them. Loaded with non stop action, a very sexy Thomas Jane and one crazy thing after another Deep Blue Sea is one hell of a thrill ride. ****.5/5
2. OPEN WATER
Lionsgate 2003 Color 79 Minutes Horror/Thriller Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis star. Written and Directed by Chris Kentis.
Rated R for language, violence, nudity and gore.
In the summer of 2003 this taut little indie made you scared to go into the water. At a short but almost unbearable tense 79 Minutes a couple find themselves in open water when their boat accidentally leaves them there while they are scuba diving. They face one element after another until finally being targeted by sharks with no hope in sight. Chris Kentis's memorable aquatic nightmare still send shivers up your bones today when you think about that scene when the camera peers just a little under the water and they are surrounded by real sharks which they also filmed with. Taut direction, strong performances and a willingness to bring audiences something new make this film one hell of an experience plus Daniel Travis ain't too bad to look at. .***..5/5
1. JAWS
Universal 1975 color 124 Mins. Horror/Thriller Roy Scheider, Rober Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and Lorrianne Gray star.
Written by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Rated PG but contains, language, violence, gore and nudity.
Was there any doubt that the first summer blockbuster would be #1 on the list. Steven Speilberg's nightmarish masterpiece is the film that set the bar for every that followed it and still hasn't been surpassed. Featuring strong performances and inspired direction Jaws centers on a Great White as it targets the small beach community of Amity with only a police chief, a marine biologist as a grizzled fisherman to stop it. There are so many moments to cherish but my favorite one that still haunts me to this day is when you can see tha large white body of a shark underneath a fishing boat. A true classic! *****/5
No comments:
Post a Comment