Welcome to another of Creepy Catalog’s daily horror digests. Shark Week is still a couple of weeks away, but I’m getting a head start with today’s Movie of the Day. Let’s get to it!
Movie of the Day
Last night I watched the newly released Tubi Original Great White Waters. What can I say about it? Well, it’s a shark movie. A very average shark movie combined with a slightly cheesy crime thriller. I’ve seen better, but I’ve also seen way worse.
I will say, there is a moment midway through that helped keep my interest in the story. The first part of the movie is rather slow and derivative, but a twist pops up almost exactly halfway into the movie (which is foreshadowed well) that hits at just the right time. My interest was waning, but that brought me back in. There are even more twists later which might be overdoing it, but you can’t say they weren’t trying to keep the story fun.
I also thought the sharks looked pretty okay for a low-budget movie like this. They pretty much always look like CGI, but some of the effects are blended into the scenery well. Some shots are obtrusively fake-looking, but I’d say the effects in Great White Waters are better than average for a movie of this budget. Plus, I think it’s hilarious how the sharks jump high out of the water repeatedly throughout the film.
I recommend Great White Waters for fans of shark movies who just want to see another very average shark movie. It’s not campy, so if that’s what you’re looking for then maybe skip it. But it delivers on its promises, and there’s a bit of fun along the way. It’s on Tubi, so you’re not spending any money. It’s worth the price for sure.
Related Movie Recommendation
My additional recommendation today is Open Water 2: Adrift (2006). It’s not a shark movie, but it is a good “stranded at sea” thriller. Six friends on a yacht jump into the water for a swim, but they forget to lower the ladder over the side. The yacht is too tall for them to climb back in, so now they’re all stranded in the water right next to the boat. Lots of arguing follows as they try to survive and think of a way to climb back aboard. You can watch Open Water 2: Adrift on Tubi.
Birthdays
Danay Garcia was born on this day in 1984. Danay is best known to horror fans for playing Luciana in multiple seasons of Fear the Walking Dead. She also directed a season-eight episode of the show. Danay also appeared in 50 States of Fright (2020), a 2013 episode of Supernatural, and as Sofia in seasons three and four of Prison Break.
Also born on July 5th, in 1960, is Pruitt Taylor Vince. He played Malcolm Rivers in Identity (2003), a detective in Angel Heart (1987), Paul in Jacob’s Ladder (1990), Ray Smilie in The Devil’s Candy (2015), and quite a few other memorable roles in horror movies and television.
And finally, Jadeen Barbor was born on July 5th, 1941. She played Betty Lupfur, the mother of the kid who is killed by the pumpkin mask in Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982).
Events on This Day
Released in Japan on July 5th, 2014, was the live-action film version of Ao Oni. Also known as Blue Demon, the movie is based on the video game of the same title. The movie is very cheesy, but it’s pretty fun.
On July 5th, 1987, the TV movie titled Bates Motel aired on NBC. The film is a spinoff of Psycho (1960) that was made as the pilot for a television series that never came to be. The story follows Alex West, a man who looks up to Norman Bates almost like a father-figure while they’re both in a mental asylum. Norman dies, and Alex inherits the Bates Motel. But as he tries to get it up and running again, the ghosts of the past begin to haunt him. Bud Cort stars as Alex. Other notable cast members include Lori Petty, Gregg Henry, Robert Picardo, and Jason Bateman.
In the News
The most interesting news making the rounds yesterday is that many of the background actors in Sinners were wearing costumes originally made for Marvel’s still-not-made Blade movie. Sinners producer Sev Ohanian said in an interview that costume designer Ruth Carter also worked on pre-production for Blade. Part of that version of Blade was set in about the same time period as Sinners, and Marvel sold the costumes to the Sinners production for a bargain.
The next shark movie I’m looking forward to is Hot Spring Shark Attack, coming soon!
