Welcome back to another post here on the blog, and this time we're finishing off our month-long celebration of killer shark films by concluding our look at the genre as a whole. The last post was essentially the first 25 years of the genre's existence as we covered the years 1975-2000, so today we're looking at the year 2000 until today.
So, quickly before we carry on, a reminder about the cut-off date just for those joining us for the first time or those needing a refresher course. The year 2000 was chosen simply so that we could find a distinctive cut-off point so I could handle my sanity without talking about all the films in the genre. However, the second reason is that ironically the year represents a dividing point in the genre where it clearly splits the genre into two styles, cheesy shark films and serious shark films.
The Cheesy Shark Films:
So, the first ones we're going to look at are the cheesy shark films. This was a trend that developed late in the 1990s and utterly exploded in the early part of the 2000s where the genre really took off mixing in plenty of uproariously cheesy antics within the scene. There are plenty of films to be found in this style, so let's take a look at these with two further distinct categories within this sub-subgenre.
SyFy Channel Originals-
This is one of the more obvious cases to be featured here and is one that provides the vast majority of the films in this particular sub-category. Despite the fact that the films essentially started with the release of Shark Attack 2, the sequel to the film mentioned in the previous effort, back in 2000, it wasn't until 2003 that it really became a priority for the channel to continue the trend when it brought out the next installment in the series, Shark Attack 3: Megalodon. Taking a look at these compared to the numerous other films to follow, they play it somewhat straighter than expected as the set-ups and action are kept serious in the context of the film, but rather it's the concept of the action that renders them cheesy as each one offers individualized scenarios that are rather ludicrous. In part 2, it's the idea of using the shark props in the same format for every attack so it always looks the same, while part 3 features superimposed images of actual sharks against the actors so it makes the creature look twice the size of the real thing which creates moments of jaw-dropping unintentional hilarity seeing actual footage of great whites in their natural habit made to do outrageous actions.
However, since SyFy was in the midst of a wave of other creatures taking centerstage on the channel at the time, sharks never offered up much chance to sneak in. The only real effort to appear here is an effort known as Hammerhead, which comes in the middle of their output and has a lot to like but not enough to dent the other creatures explored at the time. It would take several years before they tried again, and this time they finally scored nicely with two stellar efforts in Sharks in Venice in 2008 and one of the channel's all-time highlights Malibu Shark Attack the year after. They're both stand-out efforts but which are far more important in shaping the way the channel would become by being among the first to really ramp up the atrocious CGI for the creatures and a decided focus on engaging in over-the-top action scenes that are only possible because of a high-concept storyline. These two features would become incredibly prominent in the films to come.
One of the first films to take advantage of that is the decidedly decent Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, which is wholly enjoyable simply for the idea of watching Lorenzo Lamas and Debbie Gibson attempt to tackle a revived 60-foot Megalodon before turning their attention to the other giant creature in their midst. A somewhat decent movie which is more remembered for its centerpiece sequence that takes full advantage of this style of action, the film was a decent enough success and spawned the sequel Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus in 2010, offering even more crazy action in utterly atrocious CGI. It became the first franchise effort for the channel with a third entry Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark which appeared four years later while Mega Shark vs. Kolossus came about the following year as the two films were included in the channels' traditional Sharknado Week of films made to buffer in the launch of the newest Sharknado.film
Still, back in 2010, Roger Corman presented their next installment alongside the Crocosaurus film with the spectacular Dinoshark, another standout effort in a long line of great films for the channel. Not to be outdone, Corman also brought out Sharktopus later that year which also managed to become their second franchise when it followed the same exact formula as the Mega Shark films as sequel Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda also arrived four years later and finally Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf one year after in the same exact setup as before, launching Sharknado Week. The coincidence of both franchises following the same format in each year for the same reason is not to be taken for granted.
The next two years allows the channel to engage in plenty of heavy-duty efforts, unleashing the incredibly fun Swamp Shark, Sand Sharks, Super Shark and 2-Headed Shark Attack as well as it's sequels during this time. Each of these continues the trend towards focusing on the ludicrous concepts and high-energy action featured before, becoming some of the finest efforts possible in the genre. Unfortunately, Shark Week bucks that trend by being one of the weakest entries here despite a solid premise, and thankfully that is all restored with Jersey Shore Shark Attack being one of the all-time finest entries for the channel going back to what it does best, decidedly and overtly cheesy action.
That would come to a head the following year which only has two entries yet these are the two entries that would shape the channel for years to come. Often unfairly overlooked Ghost Shark is one of the premier efforts to be featured here as it takes the concept of the killer shark to an extreme never seen before, to that of a dead shark going out for revenge. Using some of the most ridiculous set-pieces possible because of its sheer nature, there's a lot to like here while setting the stage for the sheer lunacy and ridiculousness of the channel's tentpole series in the Sharknado franchise, which will be covered later this week. The impact and importance this had on the films here is where it dominates the scene to come.
By the time part 3 was released on the channel, SyFy began loading up on their films the week of the premiere of the next installment. Starting in 2015, the channel would offer a full week of films just as wild and crazy as the Sharknado series. Starting with the Mecha Shark vs. Kolossus and Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf entries, the remaining efforts including the wholly fun efforts 3-Headed Shark Attack, Zombie Shark and the utterly phenomenal effort Roboshark, one of the channel's most unsung films and really features a lot to like. The success of this setup, as well as Sharknado 3, prompted a repeat occurrence the following year with the fine efforts Atomic Shark, Dam Sharks!, Ice Sharks, Planet of the Sharks and Ozark Sharks, bringing together a stellar round-up of films,
As for the future of the format, it seems to still carry on as long as the franchise is a part of the channel. Considering the quality found in the third crop of films, from 5-Headed Shark Attack, Mississippi River Sharks, Trailer Park Shark, Toxic Shark and finally Empire of the Sharks all appearing to offer strong proof of the channel's future, leading the way for the next installment to come in when the franchise continues.
The Others-
Alongside the SyFy Channel efforts, there's plenty of fun to be had with the remaining parts of the genre. As is to be expected considering the time-frame of the channel's existence, the majority of the cheesy shark films during this time as direct-to-video efforts like Shark Hunter, Megalodon, Shark Zone and Blue Demon all appear during this early stage. None of these are really extraordinary at all or were able to really set the stage for the two other efforts that popped up in Dark Waters or Raging Sharks which were basically straightforward shark films done with utterly lame CGI which fit in these cheesy shark efforts. We even get a few foreign titles thrown into the mix with the Canadian filmmaker Christine Whitlock who offered back-to-back efforts Sharp Teeth and Marina Monster which are somewhat borderline hysterical comedy spoofs as well as the Japanese effort Psycho Shark getting featured amongst the scene.
At this point, it switches over to the SyFy Channel dominance which features all the same qualities these focus on while letting the antics get ramped up considerably, bringing the genre's appearance to an art form these other films haven't quite captured. During the height of the channel's channel's prowess, the first films to arrive with an emphasis on this were Snow Shark: Ancient Snow Beast and Attack of the Jurassic Shark at the start of the 2010s. Bringing about plenty of focus on the exploitation of the outrageous scenarios that slowly became all the rage within the scene. Other big films here really became tentpoles in the style by offering strong thrills in the goofiness stakes with titles like Avalanche Sharks, 90210 Shark Attack! and Piranha Sharks which give the scene a solid offering of titles that enhance the fun here.
At this time, due to the solid showing of the Sharknado films on these showings as well as the outcry against them, a slight split emerges that appears in the scene. Some efforts, in the vein of Shark Killer, Raiders of the Lost Shark or Shark Lake, it seems to focus on telling more of a straightforward story just utilizing somewhat silly and atrocious CGI for the sharks much like the earlier films in the decade. Likewise, other films that tended to focus on more over-the-top scenarios and action while mixing in utterly awful CGI in the likes of Shark Exorcist, Sharkenstein, Jaws 19 or Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre which easily could've been efforts on the channel proper. Even an unofficial sequel appeared with Ghost Shark 2: Urban Jaws which is somewhat based on a joke from the SyFy Channel original and taken into its own film.
The future of the genre looks really strong as well, meaning the SyFy Channel exploits and the other independent wares focused on here will drive this forward for years to come hopefully. With efforts like Land Sharks, and Sky Sharks supposedly upcoming in the future months, this one has a strong showing ahead that should keep this going for years to come.
The Serious Shark Films:
Running concurrently with the cheesy shark films, the outpouring of shark films to come out in the aftermath of the late '90s is quite impressive with a series of somewhat decent efforts. Going for a more serious approach than the straightforward cheesy efforts, these offer far more.of a serious and intense slant to the material which tries to forsake cheesy special effects in bringing the shark to like. This starts off with Open Water which went to theaters and Red Water on DVD. Now, Open Water was indeed a hit but very little of it translated into more follow-up efforts.
Ironically, the next film 12 Days of Terror which appeared next was a retelling of the events that lead to the original Jaws, being more of a docudrama rather than typical killer shark film but still has enough to merit mentioning. It would later be retold again in another effort several years later with the made-for-TV effort Blood in the Water which is a far more faithful series of events although it acts less like a horror film than the other film so each film has its own positives and flaws.
After this, it would seem that the foreign markets picked up the charge and brought out a strong showing of films for a while. Starting off with the German effort Shark Attack in the Mediterranean, which ironically predicts the fascination with the Megalodon shark that would come several years later, the film was a nice stepping stone for several other works. A few years later, Australia stepped up with two solid and rather enjoyable entries in The Reef and Bait, this latest one part of the 3D craze at the time. Not to be outdone, India also offered another entry in their remake of Open Water with the effort Warning 3D, yet another take on the 3D craze.
During this whole time, the cheesy shark genre is completely overwhelming these genres, leaving only a few other efforts to trickle out to try their luck. With the like of made-for-TV efforts Spring Break Shark Attack and Shark Swarm, the theatrically-released 3D film Shark Night or the troubled production that was Dark Tide all mostly bombing it really showed the lack of audience interest in the genre. Thankfully, more recent efforts in the last three years in The Shallows, 47 Meters Down and The Meg are challenging that assertation by being big box office smashes that show there might be hope for the genre to come.
And so there you go, a complete run-down on the different killer shark films in the genre at the moment. Considering the popularity of the genre and where it's going in the future, this looks like a potential bright spot to explore whatever side of the spectrum you fall on since it looks like both of them are getting plenty of updates. We'll probably cover more of these in the future, so in the meantime, we'll be back to new explorations of a more varied nature next time.
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