210 Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide(1975) started it all, although none of the movies that followed, including
the Jaws sequels, had the same impact at the time they were released. Few
shark movies make it past the small screen and the Syfy channel; several ap-
pear on the “50 Worst Movies Ever Made” lists.
Just about every habitat imaginable has been terrorized by blood-thirsty
selachians, as reflected in the titles of three movies released in 2011: Snow
Shark—Ancient Snow Beast, Sand Sharks, and Swamp Shark. (We don’t know
of any sharks-from-another-planet movies, but we wouldn’t be surprised.)
Sometimes the plot varies slightly and only the location changes, as in
Shark in Venice (2008), Malibu Shark Attack (2009; at least this one featured
Goblin Sharks, instead of the usual White/Bull/Tiger/Mako mutants), and
Jersey Shore Shark Attack (2012).
Certain other themes are rehashed repeatedly. Some give us an inkling
of what the villain will look like, as in Tintorera Tiger Shark (1977), Great
White (1981), Megalodon: Fear the Water (2002), Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy
(2005), Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus (2009), followed by Mega Shark vs
Crocosaurus (2010), Sharktopus (2010), and Two-Headed Shark Attack (2012).
Others just hint at anatomical excess; examples are Devilfish / Monster Shark
(1984), Dinoshark (2011), Super Shark (2011), and Jurassic Shark (2012). A
few assure us that no red dye nor screaming victims were spared, as in Deep
Blood (1989), Cruel Jaws (1995), Redwater (2003), Raging Sharks (2005), and
Blood Surf (2001—spread blood and guts on the water, then surf through
the feeding frenzy that results). Spring Break Shark Attack (2005) didn’t fool
around, beginning with its title. A few could involve any of Hollywood’s
backlot closet of monsters, but don’t worry, as in 12 Days of Terror (2004)
and The Reef (2010).
Spoofing the sharksploitation genre is Ghost Shark 2: Urban Jaws
(“And for God’s sake, stay out of the water!”). This much-delayed and
-anticipated movie has a 2013 release date; it even spoofs itself because
there never was a Ghost Shark 1. Somewhere between spoof and serious
(?) is Sharknado, the Syfy channel’s 2013 twist on the sharkastrophe theme
(pun intended). Bloodthirsty sharks are picked up in a waterspout/tornado
and deposited on the unsuspecting summer crowds of Los Angeles, includ-
ing at an amusement park where the patrons get more of a thrill ride than
they bargained for. The movie includes the memorable rip-off line, “We’re
gonna need a bigger chopper.” And after Sharknado, is it not reasonable to
expect Sharkano, Sharquake, and Sharricane?
Among big-screen, big-budget Hollywood productions that contain if
not feature sharks is The Perfect Storm (2000), with its spectacular sword-
fishing scenes that included cameo performances by Blue and mako sharks
(and also some bad weather). The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) is a
favorite among marine biologists, despite being a money-losing box office
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