CHOMPFEST 2025
Roger Corman designed the title and premise of the storyline, after Syfy rejected a sequel for his movie Dinocroc [2004], as the channel thought audiences enjoyed original productions rather than seeing a part two; a decision they later flip-flopped on with future programming. The film is an over-the-top remake of Up from the Depths [1979] but completed with a low budgeted constraint and filmed in the real Puerto Vallarta. A screenplay from writers Frances Doel, Guy Prevost, and Porter Fox, who provided additional dialogue; while Kevin O’Neill took on the director duties of this early new subgenre gonzo shark entry which is different from merely killer shark flicks.
Eric Balfour and Iva Hasperger
The film opens with a broken portion of an Artic glacier falling away from a larger piece, due to climate change, and releasing a fully alive baby-size pliosaur (*1) as it would take three years to grow full size without anyone noticing it – of course. Suddenly it makes a big splash as a hungry adult killing several tourists, sounds a bit like the creature feature The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms [1953]; while only Trace witnessed it kill his friend, though no one will believe him – would you? No way! Trace McGraw (Eric Balfour (Little Dead Rotting Hood [2016])), who has returned to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico after a series of failed business ventures finds himself accused of the killings and being drug smuggler by harbor patrol captain Victor (Guillermo Iván (Him [2016)); while he assists a strange combo career choice of a marine biology student and girls water polo coach Carol Brubaker (Iva Hasperger (Vlad [2003])) to investigate the Dinoshark. As the bodies pile up, the audience gets to enjoy the gore and blood splatter from Rita (Christina Nicole) missing bottom half, and later two unimportant victims Steve (Richard Miller) and Lois (Liv Boughn (Sharktopus [2010])). Oh, Corman, who often has a cameo appearance, takes on a larger role as Dr. Frank Reeves, a shark scientist. As the story rolls along our hero Trace works to save people at the major resort as the beast chomps on various victims while it directly heads towards it, along the way he tries to warn citizens and authorizes who all think he’s crazy and strive to arrest him. Does this plot scenario sound familiar, if it does that’s because it almost lifted from Piranha [1978]. Oh, yes there’s a few bizarre destructions, including a scene that mirrors Jaws 2 [1978] and killer shark scenes in for good measure, as well as Trace using grenades from a buddy and jet ski to take of the Dinoshark.
This film is a dreadful made-for-television so-called movie and if one is willing to suspend all holds on reality it might find you in the mood to enjoy. While it does contain cool poster artwork, that does not translate to the screen, as it clearly wanted to strive for the classic monster b-movies of yesteryear, complete with a goofy plot and strange set/backdrops; yet results in being utterly lame and uninteresting.
TAGLINE: Fear what’s just below the surface
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1545986/
IMDb Rating: 3.1
Baron’s Rating: 3.0/10
(*1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliosauroidea