Movie Review: Sharknado

Sharknado
Starring:  Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, John Heard, Cassandra Scerbo, Jaason Simmons, Alex Arleo, Neil H. Berkow, Heather Jocelyn Blair, Sumiko Braun, Diane Chambers, Julie McCullough, Christopher Wolfe
Director: Anthony C. Ferrante
Syfy, The Asylum, Southward Films, USA, 2013.

In the opening gambit some nasty shark fin hunters meet their bloody demise when a storm hits their ship and tosses some sharks on board. After that the story begins with storm approaching Los Angeles. Surfers try to have fun on the beach before the storm hits but they get attacked by sharks. Surfer dude Fin (Ian Ziering) saves his friend Baz (Jaason Simmons) from getting eaten by shark. 

Fin

Sharks attack unlucky surfers

BTW Baz looks a lot like Rammstein singer Till Lindemann. Fin owns a beach bar whose waitress Nova (Cassandra Scerbo) is traumatized by sharks. She channels her anger to killing sharks. Bar regulars include a drunk with a heart of gold George (John Heard). Fin's has an ex-wife wife April (Tara Reid), who has a new boyfriend Collin (Christopher Wolfe). 

Nova has a shark issue

The city starts flooding so Fin, Baz, George and Nova try to get to dry area. They also try to save Fin's family. To add to the catastrophe sharks start swimming up the streets and sewers. After surviving the first flood and shark attacks, something worse appears: hurricane David sucks thousands of sharks from the sea. People get eaten by flying sharks, it's a Sharknado! 

Fin's ex-wife April

Sharknado

Epic battle of Man vs Shark

The limited budget is used well. The special effects of the Asylum films are getting better. They are still cheap, but way ahead of previous Asylum efforts. But have no fear: there is still the good old changing weather in the middle of the scene- style goofiness. There are lots of silly one liners and cheesy dialogue. We also get sharp social commentary about the government who knows everything about us, even our favourite cheese. We also learn why it is a good idea to put a retirement home next to an airport: because old people can't hear. The movie has also drama: it tells a touching story about a man's attempt to repair the relationship with his separated family. Well, nothing works bringing family together better than blasting sharks!

On the minus side the usual tropes of B-movies are present, most of the supporting characters just wait to be mutilated by the sharks. There is again lots of just driving around but luckily better executed than in some previous Asylum films, *cough* 500 MPH Storm. However they are clearly refining their Syfy/Asylum disaster film pattern managing to make an entertaining bad movie experience.

It's raining sharks!

Asylum's Easter egg

Rating: So bad it is good or Very good