dmerrill-537-56275
Joined Nov 2012
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dmerrill-537-56275's rating
Most shark movies are pretty bad, so I probably started out with very low expectations. I didn't realize this was going to be an Australian period piece, so that grabbed me immediately. The vintage diving equipment was a fun plus, seeing how it worked. For me, the diving company, made up of three oddball characters seemed like a nod to Jaws. A lot of people seemed to complain about how little we actually see the shark. They forget that was true of Jaws too and it's part of what made the movie good. I think the same is true here. It's more the threat of the shark coming out of nowhere that creates the tension and fear. And, while the acting isn't stellar, it's a cut above most of the shark movies I've seen. Having the bull shark in fresh water was another bit of a twist. So, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I would probably put it in my top 10 shark movies I've seen, maybe even top 5. But I've seen a lot of bad ones.
This movie really didn't have a lot going for it. I'm thinking the biggest problem with it was the script. I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying using a pop diva concert as a trap for a serial killer is about the dumbest idea I've heard. Send an army of SWAT to check every male in the audience. So, my level of disbelief is already pretty high. Then we have a lot of overacting. The guy is suspicious from his first words, but then, I guess they weren't going to hide the fact that pleasant Dad is a serial killer for long. Problem is, he's been hiding it from his family for years and, given how bad he is at selling pleasant Dad to us, I'm not buying he could do it with his family for more than a week. So, bad script, mediocre acting tgat may have more to do with the script. Or maybe the director pushed the actors in this direction, because they are usually pretty good. Who knows, I didn't realize this was a known quantity behind this when I started watching and I really thought this was a low budget thing by unknowns. I was surprised when I saw who made this.
Not many films are made like this any more. It reminded me of watching the Russian film based on the Strugatsky Brothers' classic Roadside Picnic, though it moves a little faster than that film. A lot of people seem to miss things that are important in this film. Pay attention to the number 7. You'll want to be counting things there are more than a few of. I won't say more. It holds clues. Pay attention to how she gets the scar. You won't see that until the end but it will make some sense of things. On the surface this film makes you think it's linear. Most of it is, but its linearity is invaded multiple times. I suspect there are enough clues here to piece things together, but its humdrum trappings will lull you into missing some if you aren't careful. Not sure if I'll go back to find them all. Definitely makes you think more than most films do today. Worth a watch, but don't expect the usual horror story here, even for a psychological thriller.