Tyler Gibson
Summer is here, and in the world of cinema, that can only mean one thing: it’s shark movie season! We’ve already been treated to fin-tastic releases like Under Paris from Netflix and Something in the Water. Now, Mad Angel Films is adding another bite to our “shark”-cuterie board with their horror-comedy, Graveyard Shark.
This Indiegogo-funded feature spins the tale of cryptid hunter Abby Wescott (Stephanie Ward, Axegrinder 666), who is on a mission to prove the existence of the Graveyard Shark. This urban legend has been terrorizing the town of Willsboro Point, leaving a trail of bodies in its wake. Abby’s investigation leads her to Captain Issac Seyburn (Berndele March, The Man with No Pants), who is all too familiar with the creature’s backstory. Abby assembles a team of survivors to take down the beast, but first, they must conquer their own personal fears, especially Abby herself. And that’s as serious as the plot gets.
Graveyard Shark feels like a mashup of two films, or at least a shift between two tones. Halfway through, director Matthew A. Peters (Radiant Dark, Barely Coping) flips the script, transitioning from semi-serious to full-on comedy. The humor is mostly sophomoric and sexual in nature, but it’s not a bad thing! The comedy provides the film with its most memorable laugh-out-loud moments, making you want to stick around to see what other outrageous moments they can conjure up.
In a film titled Graveyard Shark, would you anticipate a mermaid sex scene involving a restaurant lobster tail or Bigfoot getting pegged on a hotel room bed? Did you know that Bigfoot is a “bottom”? Thanks to the filmmakers, we do now! How about witnessing a baby shark-man’s birth followed by a discussion about child support for the newborn shark-man? Or finding out if the Graveyard Shark is sexually active? (spoiler: oh, he most certainly is). These moments (and many other bizarre sequences) do occur, but it’s a shame that some of these gags don’t happen sooner as most people might lose interest in the first 40 minutes.
Despite the unexpected comedy, the performances by some of the actors are quite commendable. Ward, who carries most of the film, is fantastic. And both March and Madisen Zabawa, who plays the promiscuous Sadie, really shine once things go completely haywire. Plus, the heavy gore and practical special effects are impressive for such a low-budget film.
While you might envision a ghostly shark slicing through tombstones in a SYFY-esque CGI spectacle, the titular villain, Graveyard Shark, is actually humanoid. With a head resembling an old He-Man action figure, this two-legged shark could easily fit into the Street Sharks crew. Don’t let the description mislead you; he looks incredible considering the budget and is easily the film’s standout feature.
Despite its genuinely funny scenes, memorable sight gags, and a slick shark costume, Graveyard Shark unfortunately runs aground by taking too long to get to the good stuff. Even if you can overlook the limitations of the crowdfunded budget.
The film is available at Mad Angel Films’ official site in Blu-ray, DVD and VHS formats.
