Roger Corman hiring Joe Dante to direct and John Sayles to write his Jaws ripoff can now be seen as an incredible piece of luck. Two talents that went on to build terrific careers and respect, they get this schlock to punch way above Corman’s low-budget weight class while sticking to a simple premise and delivering exactly what you want from a movie about flesh-eating fish. Sayles’ dialogue is often witty and the story is layered with political and social satire. Dante’s direction is creative and energetic, with the naughty-boy self-awareness that would become a trademark of Dante’s career.
This includes the cast of familiar faces in memorable roles. Besides Dick Miller and Kevin McCarthy – who I would guess is in every Joe Dante film – there’s Barbara Steele, Keenan Wynn and director Paul Bartel. Bartel is a cult figure in 70s and 80s movies, known for his work as a director as much as his appearances in front of the camera. Here he has his most unironically emotional moment when he attempts to save some campers and ends up on the shore in shock over what has happened.
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