Monster Movie of the Week: Sharktopus (2011)

SHARKTOPUS (2011)
Directed by Declan O'Brien
Genre: Sharktopus


THE MOVIE

Okay, so I have judiciously avoided doing SyFy Original Movies on Monster Movie of the Week because, well, even I have standards. SyFy movies are usually cheapo B monster movies made with an eye towards camp. Movies like Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus and Chupacabra: Dark Skies are the monster movie equivalent of cheap porn (and likely use many of the same actors).

In the last few years, SyFy has been experimenting with splicing different deadly animals together to make the most dangerous, yet ridiculous monsters ever seen. Movies like Dinocroc and Dinoshark show the dangers of scientists and network executives toying with the natural order of things. And, while I could ignore the above movies, the monstrous combination of a shark and octopus was simply too alluring to miss. Sharktopus features the most absurd, yet compelling movie monster I have seen in a very long time.

An offer I can't refuse.

The Sharktopus monster is a product of a Navy experiment to create a combat organism...For Some Reason. When Shartopus' control collar is dislodged during it's first mission its handlers loose control of the beast, and it begins terrorizing the Mexican coast around Puerto Vallarta. Soon, there is a race to stop it between an American ex-pat and his crew and the monster's creators who want to capture it alive because, well, sharktopi ain't free. The head evil scientist is played by Eric Roberts, who's career made a loud whistling noise when he went from The Dark Knight to this movie.

THE MONSTER

So, it's a big-ass shark, but where the tail would be, are tentacles. That's Sharktopus in a nutshell. (Warning: If you encounter a Sharktopus hiding in a nutshell, run and get help.) In addition to the ridiculous/awesome creature design, Sharktopus is also able to use its tentacles to climb and grab and do all kinds of cool stuff, like come on land and mess up your day. The only thing that would have made him cooler, would be if he had little shark faces on the ends of his tentacles with which to bite people, instead of stabbing instruments. I guess someone at SyFy decided to show some restraint fairly late in the game.

Sharktopus, attempting to jump itself.

As you would expect if you have seen any of the other SyFy monster movies, the effects are not Hollywood feature quality and as you can see, Sharktopus does look a little like CGI plastic. Some people have said that the Sharktopus looks fake. Those people are missing the point. Where the effects are actually quite good is in the creatures animation. Sharktopus casts a unique and cool silhouette and its way of propelling itself forward in the water by whipping its tentacles behind it is strange and elegant. What makes this such a great movie monster is Sharktopus is literally like nothing you've ever seen.

Sharktopus came here to chew people and kick ass. And he's all out of people.

HOME VIDEO AVAILABILITY

Sharktopus is available on DVD and Bluray.

MOST MEMORABLE SEQUENCE

Anything involving said Sharktopus.

TRAILER




Patrick Garone
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