And we end Shark Week on a Jaws rip-off so blatant Universal got it pulled from theaters.
Port Harbor is a small seaside community. The surf's up, the sun is shinning, and a giant great white shark just turned a wind-surfer into chum. This brings two people into looking at the beach; horror writer Peter Benton (James Franciscus) and shark hunter Ron Hammer (Vic Morrow). Both men try to bring this potential danger to local politician William Wells (Joshua Sinclair). Wells promptly ignores them. His campaign for state governor must not be interrupted under any circumstances. Besides, the local wind surfing competition is looming and if he cancelled it might cost him a vote!
Well he's sure to lose some votes when the shark munches down on most of the contestants plus his aide. Benton and Hammer figure it might be best to team up, but the shark leads them into a cave, forcing them to use their dynamite to escape.
Some teens, including Benton's daughter Jenny (Stefania Goodwin), are out on a pleasure cruise. Also shark hunting, bringing plenty of steak and a shotgun. They should have brought a bigger boat and gun as the shark makes short work of their boat and one of Jenny's legs. Wells' son was onboard, so naturally Benton blames him.
Wells, taking Benton's words to heart, decides to be a politician who actually does something. He loads a helicopter up with steak and hovers over the water. This ends poorly, as the shark proceeds to drag the helicopter into the water and Wells ends up half the man he used to be.
Benton and Hammer try a different tactic, but the news created by the deaths sparked off a feeding frenzy of a different sort as every would be shark hunter and redneck decides to go down to the docks and try their hand at catching the shark. The shark is willing to oblige and soon the waters all run red. Can it be stopped?
Clearly following the book more than the film, but cheesy enough to be enjoyable on its own merits. The shark itself looks like a demented parade float, and while there is violence it doesn't quite get to the level you would think an Italian knock-off from the 80's would.
No comments:
Post a Comment