by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Wait… we are getting another shark movie? How many killer sharks can there possibly be out there in movie land? What did humanity (in movies) do to warrant so many killer sharks out there? There are few films, though, that actually give an explanation for why the shark is doing what it is doing. And no… I don’t mean a vengeful shark that follows the Brody family to Jaws: Revenge. There is a new thriller in town featuring quite the unique and dangerous shark that is taking protecting the seas into its own fins. A creature feature meets an environmental thriller, and creates The Black Demon.
Does this new shark thriller stand out amongst the rest? It will be hard to ever top Jaws as the greatest shark movie of all time because of the depth and characters. But The Black Demon does have a message and some legitimate human drama that generally works. The human lead of the film is a man, Paul (Josh Lucas), who inspects oil rigs. But one inspection goes terribly wrong when a powerful megalodon arrives to terrorize the humans. There are some twists and shocks in the narrative that shed some light on the cause of this shark hunt, as well as the reason why this rig is so dangerous to the environment. These revelations add depth and poignancy to the familial dynamic of this inspector. There are some legitimate tension and emotional moments that sprout from it as well.
Does this screenplay deliver in other ways as well? Co-writers Carlos Cisco and Boise Esquerra have plenty to say about the environment and familial trust, but there are some weak points when it comes to the dialogue and actual characters. Lucas is saddled with an unlikable man who is hard to connect with in any way. The opening moments of the film offer up some annoying banter that honestly alienates more than it humanizes. The local characters are much more relatable and honorable, but of course they do not get the spotlight. We are meant to buy into this family and this man’s journey for redemption. Sure, it has its moments, but overall this journey is underwhelming, and the climax of the film does not deliver on the level that it is shooting for.
What about the shark? We have certainly seen better. The budget for The Black Demon is obviously not huge, and unfortunately it does show a decent amount. There are a lot of darker moments around the shark, which most likely means that they were attempting to hide some of the effects and trying to use some cheap manners to create tension. Director Adrian Grunberg does his best with the budget at hand, but those scenes lose luster due to a lack of presence. There is some rock-solid tension and scares; it’s nothing fancy, but there is enough to make a solid impact. The open water filled with sharks is a terrifying thought to be had, but at least it provides some measure of hope.
Is The Black Demon a film that leaves a lasting impression on the audience? The themes and ideas are impactful and emotional. There are some solid scares, and the themes certainly deliver some impact. A lot of shortcomings get in the way of the storytelling and the general pace of the film, but just enough depth makes this a solid creature feature with a little bit of brain.
Score: 6/10
The Black Demon will be in theaters on April 28
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd