Chompfest 2024
In 2001 author Richard Fernicola wrote the non-fiction novel “Twelve Days of Terror: A Definitive Investigation of the 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks” which was later made into an episode of The History Channel’s In search of… (2001) and then on May 1, 2004 for the Animal Planet (later the Discovery channel for their annual shark week), then came this television film directed Jack Sholder (Alone in the Dark [1982]) using a teleplay by Tommy Lee Wallace (Amityville II: The Possession [1982]) and Jeffrey Reiner. Hence, it was based on a true story though, sadly, it included Hollywood’s flair and a rearranging of details for the purpose of time and plot devices. The only major issue is that it truly contested, as was in the book, that the species was to some pointed to a great white and others a bull shark.
On 1 July 1916, during WWI, in Matawan New Jersey, people flocked to the beaches to escape both the heat in the cities and the polio cases, where we meet senior beach lifeguard Alex Trednot (Colin Egglesfield (Vampires: The Turning [2004])). We are quickly introduced to a brief sub-plot involving his ex-girlfriend Alice (Jenna Harrison) and his best friend and up-and-coming businessman Stanley (Mark Dexter (From Hell [2001])) concerning a taste test for their wedding cake. Very quickly the peaceful day turns into a horror show after playing with a Retriever a wealthy swimmer Charles Van Sant (David Jeffery) is brutally attacked. Alex and other lifeguards hurried into rescue mode but it’s too late, he bled to death in the lobby of the Engleside Hotel. Alex says it was a shark but lead Commissioner Meel (Paul Ditchfield (Shark Attack [1999])) disagrees and gives a comical answer with a straight face that it was errand torpedo from a German U-boat seen off the coast. The hotel owner obviously for business sake accepts the bizarre answer, with no follow-up as to where the torpedo went.
what a sighteer’s bargin
As Alex peddles home, we meet a little boy name Lester (Daniel Kriel) and the owner of the fishing vessel Jersey Rose, named simple Cap (John Rhys-Davies (Grizzly II: Revenge [1983))] who knows it was a shark because of the ocean temps and is shocked when the beaches remain open. Oh, these characters make frequent appearances in the second and third acts, respectively. Alex tries to convince the Mayor Perillo (Patrick Lyster (Primeval [2007])) but no dice all he can think of is President Wilson (Denis Smith (Mutator [1989])) return to his hometown area promising safety from World War I. Then on the seventh of July lifeguard Danny Bruder (Jean Michel Joubert) orders two young swimmers to shore but he too was viciously attacked; Alex quits in frustration due the town elders’ negligence.
I look authentic
Meanwhile animal wrangler and showman Michael Schleisser (Jamie Bartlett (Prey [2007])) reads a lot of the spectacular storylines of shark attacks and makes a bee-line to the city. In addition, Ichthyologist Dr. John Nichols (Colin Stinton, (Red Mist [2008))] investigates the attacks and tries to prevent another. Stan works very hard to get Alex to resume his duties, but he puts the task of safety ahead of business gain, and works with Cap. A few days later the shark is seen swimming up the Matawan Creek (which is still famous all these years later) and Lester is killed, the townsfolk search for his body resulting in Stan also being attacked ultimately succumbing to the injury and then another. By July 12, the incorrect shark is captured held responsible for all the attacks except the biting radius is not correct. Soon Cap and crew do work to kill the correct predator though nothing like Quint (Jaws) nor as explosive.
The film’s story never ratchets the suspense in an upward acceleration until the final 20-minutes as there are never unnecessary subplots included, first the romance between Alex and his former girlfriend, it is vital to the storyline, and doesn’t work to make the audience more keenly interested in any character. This occurs again with great hunter Michael and his lame sidekick Murphy (Nigel Sweet) as he never generates any comedic lines, it is a rather bland performance that falls flat, it’s a true head-scratcher of why he’s even included in the film. In fact, there’s plenty of these bit roles that are often found in teleplays and as customary they never fully work to impact the fuller plot. At least they return to era of long ago, yet the final product is sadly not with a major and easily correctable flaw the misspellings of ‘co-producernas’; ‘art directorr’ and ‘costume designerer’ which should be “Co-Producer;” “Art Director;” and “Costumer Designer” a sloppiness that is glaring.
As many know I truly have varied interests in associated subject material to and with the horror genre, namely both psychology and historical, and this film clearly falls into the latter, and hits closer to home since it occurred in New Jersey, my home state, read more about it. Therefore, the movie has one significant problem, most of what is shown did not happen, especially since there is a lot of conjecture about the species of shark and if there was more than just one. In addition, if I am correct, it was never determined that the culprit was caught, but this film needed a pretty bow at the end, a vindication of those who died were given redemption and the ‘mad’ shark was done in, but really isn’t nature just doing what is normal. I believe this element soured my overall interest for the film, while it’s offset by Sholder who handles the topic competently it lacks the full terror, the killings primary hidden due to censor issues/restrictions and since it was a television movie it squanders the tension building process often. The movie is unable to show the true panic of the beachgoers being sustained for twelve days it was not like there was a death each day this attributed to the low budget and television limitations, so you might need an S.O.S. for better shark kills if that is what you are fishing for.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373653/
IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
Baron’s Rating: 4.5/10
Full Movie: