There are classic films beloved by millions, lionised by critics the world over, films that have come to define cinema as we know it …
And then there is Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf, the latest in the ridiculously popular Sharktopus franchise – it follows Sharktopus (2010) and Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda (2012) and Piranhaconda (2012) from the same producer, B-movie producer Roger Corman (The Little Shop of Horrors, Death Race 2000) – a film that aspires to nothing more and nothing less than fun, schlock horror entertainment.
With tongue, shark, whale, wolf and octopus most firmly in mouth, and a knowing sense it’s so bad it’s good it’s bad again, Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf, much like its syfy sibling Sharknado, is a Guilty Pleasure that owes no debt to rich characterisation, engaging dialogue or rewardingly complicated plot.
No, all you from any movie in the Sharktopus franchise is over the top, melodrama with a huge side serving of cheese, washed down with a massively manipulative ending.
And yet we all keep coming back for more, secure in the knowledge we can park our brains in neutral, ship our critical faculties to somewhere out in the middle of nowhere and glory in cinema so gloriously awful we cannot look away.
And look away we don’t with each of the films doing better business – ratings-wise at least; it’s a fair bet the critics remain utterly un-enamoured with the concept – than the ones before it, with Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf, starring those giants of cinema, Casper Van Dien and Catherine Oxenberg, a key part of syfy’s annual Shark Week this year which will also feature the third instalment in the Sharknado series Oh Hell No!
And just like Jaws, it will likely make you think twice about going for a swim in the ocean; not because it’s that scary, though there is gore and splatter aplenty, but because you will be laughing too hard to be able to find the car keys needed to get to the beach in the first place.