I just caught a preview screening of Piranha 3D (thanks for the free tickets Family) and let me just say I was really surprised. Let’s just say I had a lot of fun with this movie and I wasn’t the only one in the cinema who thought so. This movie has all the qualities of pure camp. Bad acting, over the top gore and gratuitous nudity. Everything a “B” grade movie should be. This one is going in the category of perfect example why this sort of filmmaking works. Let me explain.
The story is so ridiculous the screenwriter new what he was doing and with the help of horror director Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Mirrors) has made a pure camp and dare I say classic horror/comedy movie. This man knew what he was getting into and has decided to steer clear of his other serious and very disturbing horror movies (let me just say one scene in particular of The Hills Have Eyes still makes me shiver) and just have fun with it.
The story is set in spring when the community of Lake Victoria is overrun by 20 000 teenagers wanting to celebrate Spring Break and have a good time on the lake, (spring back is equivalent to Australia’s schoolies just so you know what it involves). Girls, booze and hard partying is what it is all about. But this time the Lake and its partygoers are in for a treat, a nice bloody treat. (mwwwhhaaaaa). An earthquake has gone off causing a tremor which has opened up a cavern underneath the lake which has let out a swarm of Piranhas. (I’m not going to spoil it but it features a brilliant cameo by Richard Dreyfuss and a fun take on his Jaws persona). Being such a small community the town is run by a few local police officers including Elizabeth Shue as the Head Of the Sheriffs Julie Forester (where have you been Elizabeth we missed you). On receiving a call that Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) is missing by his wife, they discover the discarded body and know that something is up in their small sleepy town. It is up to Julie and her fellow officers along with a marine biologist to save the kids from what is going to set the scene for a blood bath on the water for an exciting 80 minutes of pure fun.
This movie has it all. A crazy soft porn director played by Jerry O’Connell who provided a heap of laughs for the audience (especially a scene where we see what Jerry was packing in his Speedos, lets just say it drew a huge reaction from the audience). A fantastic cameo (but not long enough) from Christopher Lloyd channelling Dr. Emmett Brown from his Back To The Future days. A love story of young teenagers that includes the Sherriff’s son. Enough blood and guts that could solve the blood bank shortage. A huge climax on the lake which has to been seen to be believed. There is even homage to Titanic.
This movie has all the elements of pure camp fun. I haven’t seen this much camp since Showgirls (yes I am one of the handful of people who think that it is a classic movie, leave your morals and embrace the stupidness of the movie and you to will enjoy it as well). The actors all know what they are doing. They know they are not making Ben Hur but are making a movie so ridiculous that it works, (come on a tremor opens a world where Piranha’s have been able to live underneath the lake without know one knowing). The director brings on the shock and gore in bucket loads. Many people in the audience even screamed and flinched (even my friend sitting next to me) so there is a bit of scares for people thinking that they will not jump in their seat. Remember this is a horror film. I couldn’t get enough of this movie. The 3D was fun as well letting the audience get up close and personal with these scary little creatures. What I don’t get is why audiences in America decided to steer clear of this movie in droves last weekend. I don’t know if they can’t laugh at themselves or just thought it should have been a full blown horror movie. But come on its called Piranha. Did you really expect to see The Exorcist (which on viewing today is pure over the top fun as well)? I honestly hope it’s true that the studio has greenlit a sequel because I want to witness the fun again. This is why I love movies. I didn’t expect much but was thoroughly entertained over and over again. I mean its not going to change the shape of movies, or win any Oscars, but this is one movie I was happy to sink my teeth into (pun intended). 7.5/10
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