Starting with Walter Mair’s unctuous score, everything in Jaws: Sea of Blood reminds us of that other film about an interoceanic monster, as if it has spent 450 million years maturing its offensive against the invading, bestial, vandal Homo Sapiens. Any plot that dares to explore the story of a sea monster attacking bathers and fishermen must pay tribute to Jaws (1975), the cult classic in which Steven Spielberg weaves the luminous metaphors that draw attention to the negligence of the People point to the environment when it comes to it, and to some extent the same thing happens with James Nunn’s work.
Many of the aspects explored by Spielberg can be seen in his film despite the infectious madness of such a plot but James Nunn’s work, very assertive in its sharp originality, bypasses the mundane and lands on another shore. Here the director decides to attack a certain frivolous, ignorant and alienated youth and give him the punishment he deserves, including the passionate girl in the story.
As in “Jaws”, a horde of tourists takes over a once quiet, paradisiacal holiday resort on the Mexican coast. A luau on the beach brings together a group of people, including Greg, Tyler, Tom, his girlfriend Nat, and Milly, who are a little too enthusiastic. Already from this first contact, Nick Saltrese’s script begins to drift towards a wellcrafted minisuspense, which unfolds in its entirety some time later, with the central theme already well underway. Tom, the Casanova played by Jack Trueman, seems to love Nat, Holly Earl’s longsuffering heroine, but has much more fun with Milly, the best friend of Nat, Catherine Hannay’s character. For Malachi PullarLatchman and Thomas Flynn, there is no greater purpose than to serve as cannon fodder and martyrs when the situation finally spirals out of control.
To achieve this, the quintet returns to the beach the next day, still recovering from the night’s drinking, sees two jet skis anchored on the pier and has the brilliant idea of breaking into the cabin where the vehicle keys are located and steal from them. Everyone suspects what will happen, but Nunn, a master of suspense, holds the violence of the narrative for a precise Cartesian amount of time and releases it all at once in a gradual and terrible slaughter.
Amid the carnage sponsored by the titular shark, the director finds room to stage a stimulating love triangle, complete with a very quick game of intrigue between Nat, Milly, whose nether half is deservedly swallowed by the predator, and Tom, who sacrifices himself to save his now possible ex Girlfriend. The result, without any major pyrotechnics, is the tastiest slice of the cake, with the heroine’s victory over her tormentor and his many rows of relentless teeth.
Movie: Shark: Sea of Blood
Direction:James Nunn
Year: 2022
Genres: Horror/Drama
note: 9/10