Tag: shark film

Spoiler-Free Review of “Under Paris” on Netflix: My Kind of Shark Flick!

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“I know where it is…”

Under Paris (Sous la Seine) released on Netflix on June 5th 2024. The French horror thriller film stars Bérénice Bejo, Nassim Lyes, Léa Léviant, and Anne Marivin. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-three minutes.

When a shark finds its way into the Seine, a scientist must face her tragic past in order to stop it from feasting on swimmers in the upcoming triathlon.

Here is the trailer:

Under Paris steps up to the plate as a decent shark flick, channeling Jaws, Deep Blue Sea, and The Meg, while having some bloody, outrageous fun. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Plenty of shark screen time!

I’ve seen way too many shark films lately where the shark barely shows up. Let’s be honest…we’re watching these films for the sharks so we need them to actually appear from time to time…right? Well, have no fear…there is plenty of shark action in this one. I LOVED IT!

Sure, some of it was so absurd and ridiculous, but I didn’t care. This is what I came to see and it delivered in that aspect.

That scene in the Catacombs was BLOODY FANTASTIC!!!!!!!

Images courtesy of Netflix

A lot of fun!

OK, I loved the nods at Jaws and Deep Blue Sea here. This film understood the assignment and just went with it. It wasn’t a rip-off of either of those movies. It had its own story to tell and its own identity, but it also showed some respect to its predecessors, which I appreciated as a shark film fan.

As long as you don’t take things too seriously or try to make sense of stuff, you will enjoy this one. It’s silly and bonkers, but it’s also awesome to watch unfold. I was never bored at all.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A little longer than it needed to be…

I think we could have accomplished the same result in just under 90 minutes. This movie dragged a little bit in certain spots, but this wasn’t a major con. The CGI is also really bad at times, but I was having so much fun that I didn’t really care about this…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

Under Paris is a blast to watch with plenty of bite. Just go with it and you’ll be thoroughly entertained.

Finally, a shark movie that delivers!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts on Under Paris in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Something in the Water” on Demand: Sharks Crash a Girls Trip

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Take a deep breath…”

Something in the Water released on Demand on May 3rd 2024. The survival horror film stars Hiftu Quasem, Natalie Mitson, Lauren Lyle, Nicole Rieko Setsuko, and Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-five minutes.

Five best friends must fight to survive in open water when their vacation excursion turns into a nightmare.

Here is the trailer:

Something in the Water has a few suspenseful moments sprinkled in, but it would have benefited from some more shark appearances. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

Some genuinely suspenseful moments.

There definitely needed to be a lot more of them, but there were a few well-done scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. It’s no secret that the shark aquatic horror genre is one of my favorites and I did get invested here.

The setting was aesthetically pleasing and I’m always up for any kind of trip gone horribly wrong…so this film had a lot going for it on paper.

There were a few stand-out characters to root for as well. Usually I’m rooting for the shark in these types of films, but I actually did care about the outcome for a few of the girls.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

Minimal shark action…

This was probably my biggest con with this film. I think I would have liked it a lot better if more sharks had actually shown up.

It seemed like we were spending an eternity treading water and by the time we got to the more suspenseful moments, I had lost some interest.

I came for the sharks and I expected a lot more in this department…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Something in the Water doesn’t offer the audience anything new here, but I’m addicted to shark films so I’ll keep coming back for more.

If you’re looking for a solid shark flick that isn’t Jaws or Deep Blue Sea, I’d recommend The Shallows, 47 Meters Down, or The Reef. For some silly fun, try Shark Bait.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Something in the Water in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Meg 2: The Trench” in Theaters: Nothing Can Stop Jason Statham on a Jet-Ski…

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“That’s the biggest Meg I’ve ever seen…”

Meg 2: The Trench released in theaters on August 4th 2023. The sci-fi thriller sequel stars Jason Statham, Sophia Cai, Wu Jing, Skyler Samuels, Sienna Guillory, Cliff Curtis, and Page Kennedy.  It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-six minutes.

Jonas is back again to lead a research team on a dive in the deepest part of the ocean, but their lives are put in immediate danger when they wind up coming into contact with prehistoric sharks.

Here is the trailer:

Meg 2: The Trench takes a while to kick into gear, but once it embraces some campy chum-filled fun, it gives us enough entertaining moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The last forty-five minutes are a lot of fun!

The first half of the movie didn’t do much for me, but thankfully it found its groove and went with it. Was it far-fetched and ridiculous? Absolutely! But it was also a lot of fun and it’s hard not to root for Jason Statham taking on these “apex predators” in insane ways.

Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Returning characters add to the charm!

While not all of the surviving characters made an appearance in the sequel, enough of them did and they got more screen time this time around, which was great to see. We also got a few new characters who really held their own.

My all-time favorite character (I’m sure you can figure out who that is) stole the film once again, but that should come as no surprise!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The first half of the movie took itself way too seriously…

While not everyone enjoyed The Meg, I did because it was so campy and silly. I expected the same vibe this time around with the sequel, but the first half of the film focused too much energy on figuring out who the bad guy was with too much drama. It wasn’t awful, but it just didn’t feel like the sequel to The Meg. I almost felt like I was watching another movie.

It was predictable and uninspiring, but things did pick up eventually. I also think that some of the previews spoiled a lot…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

I’m in!

Not as good as the first film and far from perfect, but Meg 2: The Trench gives us enough toothy fun moments in the second half, making this an entertaining watch for fans of the first movie.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Meg 2: The Trench in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rule…they can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Maneater” (2022) on Demand: Cheesy Shark Flick has its Moments

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“When a shark tastes something it likes, it doesn’t leave…”

Maneater released on demand on August 26th 2022. The survival horror film stars Nicky Whelan, Shane West, Trace Adkins, and Jeff Fahey. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-seven minutes.

A group of friends camp at a remote island for the night, but soon realize that a great white shark is stalking them.

Here is the trailer:

Maneater doesn’t take too long to show off its toothy star, but does this film do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Saban Films

The shark shows up right away…

I’m really glad we didn’t have to wait too long for the shark to show up in this film. There was minimal set-up before we saw the first attack, which was really cheesy and extra, but entertaining nonetheless. A lot of shark films lately have been waiting too long for things to happen, but this was a nice change of pace.

The second half is a lot stronger than the first.

The first half of this film was painful to get through. I thought that this drastically changed by the time we got to the action-packed second half, which was much better. This redeemed the film in a lot of ways and made me like some of the characters more than I initially did. I wouldn’t say that I witnessed anything extraordinary in the shark genre, but it was still a lot of fun.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Saban Films

Really painful acting…

The dialogue was cringe-worthy and the acting was overdone and excessive. I’m also not sure why we decided to bench our best player in this one…Jeff Fahey. He needed a much bigger role and was the main reason why I tuned in!

None of the characters were really likable at all so it didn’t matter when the shark had its fun with them. They were all basically interchangeable…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Saban Films

I’m 50/50 on this one…

There’s plenty of cheesy fun shark attacks to indulge in, but the over-acting and bad dialogue is painful to get through. The second half of the film is a lot better than the first so you may be better of fast-forwarding through the set-up in the beginning. I promise you won’t miss much.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Maneater in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

 

Spoiler-Free Review of “Shark Bait” (2022) on Demand: Playing Chicken with Jet Skis may not be the best idea…

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Jet skis?!”

Shark Bait released on demand on May 13th 2022. The survival horror film stars Holly Earl, Catherine Hannay, and Jack Trueman. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-five minutes.

A group of friends steal a couple of jet skis, but end up stranded in the middle of the ocean after colliding into one another, now stalked by a shark.

Here is the trailer:

Shark Bait is the latest shark film entry, but does it have enough bite to provide us with some real entertainment? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Doesn’t take too long for things to happen…

This movie was a quick watch and I was very happy that it didn’t take too long for things to happen. We didn’t get too much set-up and once everyone was in the water, our toothy friend decided to make his first appearance early. After watching The Requin, this was a very nice change of pace and it worked in the film’s favor. After all, we’re watching this for the shark action…

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Fun premise and some intense moments.

I don’t know about you, but this premise was a dream come true for me. We got a bunch of spring breaker type teens playing chicken with stolen jet skis, which made it easy to root for the shark in this one…

There were a lot of intense moments and even though we got the typical waiting around for the shark to pick them off one by one formula, there was plenty of action to keep me invested from start to finish.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Superficial characters and a predictable formula…

We didn’t get much character development here and I didn’t really care about the characters. It was easy to pick out who would potentially survive and the film followed the same formula as The Requin and Great White in a lot of ways. Instead of a floating villa or a raft, we got a jet ski, but the plot was basically the same. That being said, I love shark films so this will never get old for me…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

I’m in!!!

Shark Bait was a lot of fun!

Our toothy friend got lots of screen time and there were actually some edge-of-your-seat moments throughout the film that made this an entertaining watch. If you enjoy shark films, you’ll have a blast watching this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Shark Bait in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Requin” on Demand: Alicia Silverstone puts her survival skills to the test

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“You need this…”

The Requin released on demand on January 28th 2022. The survival horror film stars Alicia Silverstone and James Tupper. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

A married couple seeks out a romantic getaway in Vietnam on a floating villa when a dangerous storm sweeps them out to sea, as they soon find themselves surrounded by sharks.

Here is the trailer:

The Requin brings us a premise we’ve seen before with a female lead with lots of potential, but does this film have enough bite? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Alicia Silverstone is the best part of the movie…

She is the main reason why I tuned in to this one (well that and I can’t get enough of shark movies) and she really gave this one her all. There aren’t too many layers to her character even though they try to force some down our throats, but she proves to be a worthy opponent when we get into the real heart of the film. I was rooting for her and I thought she did a solid job with what she was given.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Decent set-up and ending.

I’ve seen this type of movie before (Open Water, The Shallows) but I have to say that the floating villa debacle was truly terrifying. You may want to think twice about where you stay on vacation…

After this, there was a lot of waiting around, but the last thirty minutes of the film turned things around and gave shark movie fans plenty to be excited about.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

It takes too long for things to happen.

The movie is only 90 minutes long and we wait around for quite a while before we see our toothy friends, which was surprising based on the title of this particular film. If you’re looking for a lot of shark action, you may be better off fast-forwarding to the end.

Dialogue that will make you wince.

The dialogue was not that great even though there were some genuine moments between our couple. My biggest complaint centers around the way they used it to tell the audience what had happened in their past, leading to Jaelyn’s breakdown and trauma. It was done so poorly and I almost felt like they were just reading a draft of notes. Show, don’t tell…

The effects were also really bad…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in about 75 percent…

Alicia Silverstone redeemed this film in a lot of ways and there is plenty of bite toward the end. This film isn’t anywhere close to the level of The Shallows, but if you like shark films, you’ll enjoy this one for the most part.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Requin in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!