Piranha 3D (2010)
Certified: 18
Duration: 88 minutes
Directed by: Alexandre Aja
Starring: Elizabeth Shue, Adam Scott, Jerry O’Connell, Ving Rhames, Jessica Szohr, Steven R. McQueen, Christopher Lloyd, Richard Dreyfuss
KRS release
An exploitation movie is that kind of film which is promoted through an “exploitation” factor; usually this is sleazy and overdone, especially in the way the film is marketed. The genre has delivered some real gems and cult favourites in the past with accompanying posters blaring to all and sundry never-before-seen cinematic adventures.
Piranha 3D is an excellent proponent of this genre. It makes brilliant use of 3D technology and does justice to the original Piranha movie (1978), directed by Joe Dante and written by John Sayles. Director Alexandre Aja excellently captures the feel of the cult movie, as much as if he were another Roger Corman and like the killer fish, he portrays, he goes hog all with maniacal glee.
The film is crass, rude and in your face and is proud of it. It’s not for the faint-hearted as it revels in its gore.
Piranha 3D kicks off with some seismic activity releasing thousands of prehistoric piranhas into the modern world. One of the first victims turns out to be an old fisherman played by Richard Dreyfuss. The fish are soon on the prowl and with a lot of youths partying in Lake Victoria while on spring break, the piranhas’ victims are mainly bikini-clad and swimsuit-wearing Hollywood’s gals and boys.
Sheriff Julie Forester (Elisabeth Shue) and her deputy (Ving Rhames) are soon knee deep in trouble. Julie’s son Jake (Steven R. McQueen) has just been hired by Derrick (Jerry O’Connell), a videographer for the series Girls Gone Wild and he has to find the hot spots where local girls go wild. Among these are Danni (Kelly Brook) who has Jake all in a fizzle and local girl Kelly (Jessica Szohr). Meanwhile Julie’s other two children, who are still quite young, have gone fishing.
What really striked me in this film is how unapologetic it is. It knows the gimmicks of the film and like a William Castle production from back in the 1950s exploits them to the full. Thus we are taken on a ride where killer fish devour people who are either there for a cameo, are simply obnoxious or really sexy – thus they get to be fish food! Recently Quentin Tarantino tried to emulate the drive in/B movie spirit with Grindhouse, however, while admirable, the film was too polished to be a real homage. Piranha 3D is actually more in the spirit of Things.
If you are looking for Academy Award material, then this film is not for you as it is not interested in that crowd. Piranha 3D is, however, well directed and well shot. The underwater scenes are brilliant and more than that, it is fun… in a way that only horror movies can be.