Anytime of year is good for sharksploitation, but with summer around the corner, it feels especially appropriate. Chum takes all the expected ingredients from a killer shark movie and adds unfulfilled love, a sinister fisherman, and a destination wedding. Is it all enough to make it stand out?
It does not take long for Chum to showcase its best features. The cold open features a bloody shark attack that sees the victim chomped in half. The moment will catch audiences off guard and make them sit up. There are a number of equally graphics kills throughout the film. There are some jump cuts that end up being more funny than scary, but the vast majority of the shark action is top notch.
For the most part, the shark itself looks great . There are some moments that look a little dodgy, but nothing that ruins the immersion. Chum does a great job of not making its creature comically big. It is just your average gigantic shark that thirst for human flesh.
The movie is filled with effortlessly beautiful shots. The ocean looks breathtaking and the little time spent on land looks great. The story is the standard revenge story seen in these types of films. There is a lack of redemption for the villain ends up being refreshing as a storytelling device. Two of the protagonists feel like they are in mismatched roles, however.
There is nothing wrong with the performances, though there are multiple moments with strange deliveries. One character’s sister is particularly annoying. It is one thing when she is just the say whatever she is thinking sibling in the early going. Her quips are completely out of place once the action kicks in. Despite this, Chum is an entertaining sharksploitation flick.
Chum releases on VOD, digital, and in theaters on June 5.
