The Black Demon

Never judge a book by its cover. The poster makes you think you're going to see a creature feature with a cool monster shark eating people. But nope. It's just a 1 location C movie with a family on an oil rig.

The characters are entirely unlikeable, the acting is bad, there's constant preaching about how humans are destroying the planet, with about the same subtlety of some idiot gluing themselves to the street to save the weather.

The actual shark is in it for about... 20 seconds of screentime. If at all.

Worst of all, the film takes itself entirely seriously. If you don't have the budget (or talent) to make a serious drama, at least make it fun.

No fun to be had here. It's just bad.

Unlike what I expected from the trailer, this movie gives a different vibe from the 'Meg' series. Although you can tell that the animation quality doesn't quite match up to 'Meg,' I really like how this film combines the darkness and introspection of corrupt oil companies and well-paid officials. It shows that maintaining a facade of a glamorous life can turn people into environmental destroyers without a care, and they only realize their mistakes when they themselves are affected. This isn't just another commercial film focused solely on delivering thrills, like 'Meg.' There's a line in the movie that I strongly resonate with: even though we know our job duties may lead to wrongdoing, when the boss says, 'If you don't do it, someone else will,' many people, I believe, would end up like the male protagonist, sinking deeper into it.

Just got back from watching this movie in the theater and I am still mad about wasting my money on this trash of a movie. The only scenes with the creature are short and happen to quick. Other than that the rest of the movie is nothing but arguing, family drama, preaching about humans destroying the planet, etc. Not to mention there is no character development. First shark movie I have seen where I actually wouldn't have minded if the whole cast didn't make it. If you are wanting to watch a shark film then I wouldn't recommend this one. This movie actually makes The Meg seem like an Oscar worthy film.

Some of you acting as if the Director kidnapped you, rinsed your savings account as a ticket fee, and Strapped you Clockwork Orange style to watch this 33,000 times on loop.

Ok list style, here we go.

1. The Kills: Pretty original, some offscreen. I mean how much excitement do you really expect from a 70 foot shark eating a person? Is it a Spielberg level event when you eat a single mini m&m? Grade B 2. The plot: It was alright. A small twist in it. I could see this having a different ending a few ways. Grade B 3. Acting: It was hit and miss. Possibly due to the writing. Don't even try to sell me that 50 shades would have been a better movie with Sir Anthony Hopkins in his Prime with Helen Mirin go cast. Actors can only do so much with the role. Grade C+ The wife, and Son are probably the most believable acting in this.

4. CGI SFX: B It was better than anything The Asylum ever did, but yes it's not the MEG and it's not Jaws and it doesn't have to be.

Over all grade with no Zach Galifianakis-Alan mathematical questions in a casino is a B + cause I like shake movies. To score an A though it's tough to come close to Jaws. Even Bruce the shark for all the issues looks like something you'd NEVER want to see in the open ocean.

Aw, come on. It's not that bad! It's just a poor cousin of one of the "Meg" movies, only with Josh Lucas trying to save the day rather than Jason Statham. He finds himself and his family trapped on a dilapidated oil rig off Baja, where they discover that a creature with a fin the size of a tennis court is marauding and it's peckish. Once safely ensconced on the installation, "Paul" discovers that most of the crew have skedaddled and those left are petrified of our huge great sea beastie. Worse still, they believe it has been sent by their gods as retribution for their plundering of the natural resources - and that they are all going to be tomorrow's ambergris. Now, to be fair to this CGI-fest, the ending is not quite as you might expect but the fact that the great fish seems huge enough to eat a bus at one stage then scared off by being kicked by a small child doesn't do too much for the credibility of this really, really quite sad indictment of where this once A-list actor has toppled to over the last decade. It hasn't really an original bone in any of it's bodies and it really is forgettable stuff that almost made me wish that I was the guy in the poster...