Horror Movie Review: Piranha

Piranha

Starring: Elizabeth Shue, Jerry O'Connell, Ving Rhames, Steven R. McQueen, and Jessica Szohr

Directed by: Alexandre Aja

Written by: Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg

Production Companies: Dimension Films, Intellectual Properties Worldwide, Aja/Levasseur Productions, Atmosphere Entertainment MM, Chako Film Company, and The Weinstein Company

Release Date: August 20, 2010

An earthquake opens an underground lake into Lake Victoria releasing hundreds of prehistoric piranha into the waters filled with teens on spring break. Chaos ensues.

The plot is very basic, if far fetched, but Piranha, a remake of the 1978 movie of the same name, is a fun, if bizarre, movie.

It's bizarre because it can't seem to decide what it wants to be. On the one hand we have all the makings of a lighthearted B-movie with giant killer animals, lots of pointless nudity,and more gore than you can stomach. Elizabeth does a good job as Sheriff Laurie Forrester, single mother of Zane, Laura, and teenager Jake played by Steven R. McQueen, grandson of the late Steve McQueen. Jake provides us with most of the plot by ditching his babysitting responsibilities to show Girls Gone Wild exploiter-like director Derrick Jones. This leads to Zane and Laura getting stranded on an island in the middle of Lake Victoria as the piranha begin to devour every living thing they can get their teeth into.

It was great seeing Jerry O'Connell playing Derrick Jones. I'm a big fan of O'Connell's from his My Secret Identity and Sliders days. Ving Rhames, on the other hand, was underused. The role of Deputy Fallon could have been played by just about anybody else it was such a minor role. Ol' Jerry O'Connell could have done the role fine, though he was wonderful as the Joe Francis parody. Jessica Szohr plays Jakes love interest Kelly and was nominated for the Best Scared-As-Shit Performance in the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. She unjustly lost to Ellen Page in Inception.

It's a fun film if you want a lighthearted, though extremely bloody serious giant animal film.

Related Trailers

Day of the Dead - Ving Rhames is used better in Day of the Dead. Steve Miner (Friday the 13th Part 2) directs this remake of George A. Romero's classic zombie flick Day of the Dead, in which a mysterious disease causes the newly dead to come back to life and threaten the living. Meanwhile, military and scientific experts clash as they try to arrive at a solution. Miner and writer Jeffrey Reddick honor the story and social relevance of the first film but put a fresh spin on this tale of horror and intrigue.



First Born - Elizabeth Shue stars in First Born. Suffering from postpartum depression, Laura (Elisabeth Shue) finds motherhood taxing, and living in an isolated rural home doesn't help. But things only get worse as the arrival of an eerie nanny and a series of macabre events make Laura question her grip on reality. Blair Brown, Steven Mackintosh, Khandi Alexander and Kathleen Chalfant also star in this spine-chilling psychological thriller from director Isaac Webb.



Room 6 - Jerry O'Connell also stars in Room 6. When her boyfriend (Shane Brolly) is seriously injured in a car accident, Amy (Christine Taylor) is forced to confront her lifelong fear of doctors and hospitals. Trouble is, the facility he was reportedly taken to -- St. Rosemary's -- doesn't exist, at least not in the clinical sense. With help from a well-meaning stranger (Jerry O'Connell), can Amy navigate the hospital's creepy halls and solve the mystery of the ominous Room 6?



Mirrors - Alexandre Aja also directed Mirrors. This creepy supernatural thriller stars Kiefer Sutherland as troubled security guard Ben Carson, a man who discovers malevolent spirits living within the mirrors of a fire-ravaged department store. When their murderous nature comes to light, Ben turns to his estranged wife (Paula Patton) to help him save their family -- and himself. The supporting cast includes Amy Smart and Jason Flemyng.



Sorority Row - Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg also wrote the screenplay for Sorority Row. When a prank results in the accidental death of a Theta Pi sister, the sorority's members keep the crime under wraps. But as graduation rolls around, a masked killer begins stalking and slaying the girls responsible for the death. Someone is out for revenge, but who could know about their dirty little secret? Jamie Chung, Rumer Willis and Audrina Patridge ("The Hills") co-star in this not-so-sisterly slasher flick.



And just for fun...a Funny or Die video called Ving Rhames Wins an Oscar for Piranha 3D. Made me LOL...and props for Elizabeth Shue as well!

Ving Rhames Wins Oscar for Piranha 3D from Elisabeth Shue