The Last Shark/Comments

From The Grindhouse Cinema Database

< The Last Shark

So, Universal Pictures successfully sued and blocked the North American release of this Italian production in 1982 on grounds of plagiarism of their 1975 picture JAWS. Ridiculous. By that, I mean this movie is ridiculous. So ridiculously entertaining that it warrants no legal action whatsoever. Hell, JAWS inspired a whole animal attack genre and even saw very specific clones BARRACUDA and PIRANHA within a year's time. THE LAST SHARK isn't just a copycat, it's that rare beast that swims the uncharted waters of Italian exploitation - a realm of cannibal savages, misogynistic zombies, and post-apocalyptic bikers. This isn't a movie where a shark attacks beach goers - this is a movie where beach goers explode, literally, at mere contact with a shark. This is a movie where one or two American stars appear, speaking English, but are still clearly dubbed with the rest of the European cast. This is a movie with only enough budget to share between an inadequate FX department and a composer lazily programming a monotonous score that grows irresistible. And most importantly, this is a movie directed by Enzo G. Castellari (INGLORIOUS BASTARDS and BRONX WARRIORS trilogy) and written by Vincenzo Mannino (MURDER ROCK, RAIDERS OF ATLANTIS, HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK). Need I say more? I didn't think so.


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Josh Stephenson was born in Florida, schooled in Chicago, and lives in New Orleans. His mother went into labor while his father and brother were attending a theatrical double feature of EXCALIBUR and BLOOD BEACH. A youth spent in the VHS rental heyday led to a lifelong addiction to movies. He holds a BS in Television Journalism from the University of Florida and a BA in Film Editing from Columbia College Chicago. He continues to work in the Louisiana film industry despite a government-issued tax cap.

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