Sharksploitation (Stephen Scarlata, 2023).

Sharksploitation Documentary Film Review

It’s Shark Summer! (Shark Week is so ’90s) This year we have the usual swarm of scary shark movies including The MEG 2, The Black Demon, Cocaine Shark, and even Tommy “The Room” Wiseau is taking a dip with Big Shark, set in the Big Easy.

Perhaps the best of these films is the fintastic Shudder-exclusive documentary, Sharksploitation. Director Stephen Scarlata (Jodorowsky’s Dune) tackles an array of shark flicks but of course, the whole genre is anchored by Jaws. Jaws, soon to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, remains the big kahuna—but it’s far from the first frightful fish tale. B-Movie King Roger Corman was making shlocky sea-fearing flicks, as were others.

However, Jaws was the first to make a splash as a big-budget blockbuster; many things set it apart from the rest and Sharksploitation calls in a wide array of experts to talk about that movie specifically, and the genre it spawned. There’s a vast pool of pundits including film historians, screenwriters, directors, folklorists, scientists, and marine biologists, each bringing their own intellect and perspective to the table. (These include:  Jaws screenwriter Carl Gottlieb; filmmaker Roger Corman; Sharknado impresario Anthony C. Ferrante; and Zombie Shark director Misty Talley.)

There is an impressive insight into the genre, which covers early films that depicted sharks as benevolent and fabled gods, spinoff genres such as alligator, piranha, and killer whales, as well as sharks in animated and superhero features. Films covered include The Reef, Open Water, The Shallows, The MEG, and there’s even a brief clip of Lucio Fulci’s famous “zombie vs. shark” fight scene from Zombie. Sharksploitation also takes a brief dive into the James Bond films, wherein more than a few villains sicced their sharks on 007.

There’s also a necessary but sad look at how vilified sharks have become following the success of Jaws—thousands of these beautiful creatures have been hunted down and killed for no reason other than unfounded fear, and our ecosystem has been upset. As a result, the author of the novel Jaws, Peter Benchley, devoted much of his life to conservation and education—his widow, Wendy Benchley, makes a welcome appearance in this documentary with her interesting discernments on fact and fiction. There are also a few scenes of sharks being killed during the filming of certain movies—briefly, and not gorily, but be warned.

Sharksploitation is an educational, entertaining, and enlightening documentary that’s perfect for all kinds of movie fans—not just horror aficionados.

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S.L. Wilson

Watched Today: Sharksploitation (2023)

SHARKSPLOITATION (2023) Reviews of Shudder documentary

‘A documentary that goes into the Jaws of Hollywood’ Sharksploitation is a 2023 American documentary that traces the legacy of Jaws and how an action horror subgenre has developed. Written and directed by Stephen Scarlata. Includes interviews with Joe Alves, Mark Atkins, Paul Bales, Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Scott Devine, Anthony C. Ferrante, Michael Gingold, Carl Gottlieb, David Michael Latt,…

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Sharksploitation

To see filmmakers, scientists and the people who made the movie discuss why JAWS 3-D (1983) didn’t work as the laughable special effects play out on screen is to enter movie geek heaven. That’s the joy of Stephen Scarlata’s SHARSKPLOITATION (2023, Shudder). The film offers a pretty comprehensive view of the phenomenon started by the original JAWS (1975) with commentary from much more informed talking heads than you would find in most horror documentaries. They offer a look at how sharks were treated in earlier films, how they figured in indigenous religions and when Western culture started treating them as monsters. Along with the JAWS franchise, which they acknowledge loses steam after the second film, they look at Italian ripoffs like the erotic shark film TINTORERA: KILLER SHARK (1977) and the shiver of ever-more-outlandish shark films that developed to meet the Syfy Channel’s need for original programing. There are so many, in fact, that Scarlata has to use split screens to capture the subgenre’s breadth. He even mines them for laughs when he shows multiple films with virtually identical scenes, like the standard trope, “Get out of the water.” It gets a little long when they get to the more serious shark films that have come along recently. After all the fun Syfy stuff, it feels like we have to get back to school. They also talk about films copying the format supposedly established by JAWS without acknowledging that that film’s structure mirrors the giant nuclear critter movies of the 1950s. And we really have to pay for the fun when they pound home the moral lesson that it’s fine to enjoy shark movies as long as we remember to protect the ocean. But any film with Roger Corman is OK by me. And as an added bonus, you get to see Fonzie jump that damned shark.

August 1st, 2023

Not every monster can be Frankenstein or Dracula. But, sometimes, when you watch one of the more obscure 1930s monster movies there are still things in there that blow you away. Like the aesthetic of The Old Dark House (1932) or the fun twist at the end of Mark of the Vampire (1935). These movies maybe aren’t worthy of icon status like some of the other’s we’re so familiar with, but there are still moments that make you nod and say “Yeah, that was actually pretty impressive.” The Halperins’ White Zombie (1932) …

…had none of those things. I can see how it did contribute to the zombie genre as a whole, and the castle had some impressive design work. But even with some of the movies severely outdated themes, it really did seem like an excuse for the Halperins to try and capitalize on Lugosi’s infamous stare. I can say that the man’s eyes truly were the star of the show.

The reason I chose this movie tonight is because I’ve been really getting into the lore of some of the more infamous unmade films in Hollywood history. There’s a podcast called Best Movies Never Made hosted by Josh Miller and Stephen Scarlata. The podcast got me into some books and today Dave Alexander’s Untold Horror (2021) arrived in the mail. Both the podcast and the book deeply wax poetic over the loss of Tobe Hooper’s White Zombie remake. I thought it was time to see why the original film had inspired such a desire to see the horror master’s reimagining. I think there really are fans of the movie out there and I can see why, but I don’t think it’s one that I’ll be adding to my Halloween line up, and I can definitely say I am now a member of “Hooper shoulda had his chance” club.

bestmoviesnevermade

We’re joined again by @breagrant and @malloryomeara for Part 2 of the unmade adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s THE SANDMAN! How will it all end??? (Spoiler: they didn’t end up making it)

Co-directors Kyle Kuchta (Fantasm) and Bill Fulkerson (Outside the Cinema podcast) have launched an Indiegogo campaign to self-release Survival of the Film Freaks, a documentary exploring the phenomenon of cult films.

With a goal of $8,000 in two months, you can pre-order the award-winning film on DVD for $20 or Blu-ray for $30, both of which are expected to ship in May. Other perks include posters ($5), digital soundtracks ($8), T-shirts ($25), and more.

Joe Bob Briggs (MonsterVision), Ted Raimi (Evil Dead II), Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger), Adam Green (Hatchet), Jackson Stewart (Beyond the Gates), Greydon Clark (Without Warning), Luigi Cozzi (Starcrash), Stephen Scarlata (Jodorowsky’s Dune), William Sachs (Galaxina), BJ McDonnell (Hatchet III), Kurando Mitsutake (Gun Woman), and Kansas Bowling (B.C. Butcher) are among interview subjects.

Special features are listed below, where you can also check out the trailer.

Special features:

Deleted interview segments

Joe Bob Briggs extended interview

Making a Mood - The Music of Survival of the Film Freaks

Is a Film Freak promotional clips

Trailer

Survival of the Film Freaks is a documentary exploring the phenomenon of cult film and how it survives in the 21st Century. Through interviews with cult icons such as Ted Raimi and Lloyd Kaufman, alongside modern-day filmmakers like Adam Green and Jackson Stewart, Film Freaks examines decades of film fanaticism and how the 'digital age' has transformed the way we experience movies. At the helm of Film Freaks is the directing duo of Bill Fulkerson and Kyle Kuchta, who have spent the last three years making the documentary.

Beyond The Gates (2016)

Directed by Jackson Stewart

Written by Stephen Scarlata, Jackson Stewart

Music by Wojciech Golczewski 

Country: United States

Language: English

Running Time: 84 minutes

CAST

Graham Skipper as Gordon Hardesty

Chase Williamson as John Hardesty

Brea Grant as Margot McKenzie

Barbara Crampton as Evelyn

Matt Mercer as Derek

Justin Welborn as Hank

Jesse Merlin as Elric

Sara Malakul Lane as Dahlia

Henry LeBlanc as Bob Hardesty

Caryn Richman as Marilyn Hardesty

(Failure is My Business dept: No screengrabs, so IMDB are the source of my visual thefts.)

People today sure do love them some horror movies of the ‘80s, more than people in the ‘80s loved horror movies of the ‘80s I think. Certainly everyone involved in Beyond The Gates loves ‘80s horror movies since they have produced a retro paean to the pleasures of that era’s low budget video store schlock. If that wasn’t their intention something has gone horribly, irrevocably wrong with their movie. But of course that was their intention, as is obvious long before the contractually obligated hot pink and icy blue lighting kicks in. Unfortunately while Beyond The Gates successfully captures the (not always intentional in the originals) serio-comic air of such fare, it also replicates a few too many of its many precursors’ flaws.

Two estranged brothers, Gordon, The Quiet Repressed One (Graham Skipper), and John, The Affable Waster One (Chase Williamson), are reunited at their father’s house in order to settle his affairs due to his mysterious and extended absence; his probable death, in essence. The pair attempt to reconnect emotionally while dismantling their father’s video store. (NB: People used to have to actually physically travel to a shop and take out physical objects (“video tapes”) containing recordings of movies, which they would take home and then return once watched. It’s true; I lived through it.)   After a spooky dream (or was it? Brrr!) The Quiet Repressed One finds the key to their father’s locked office, wherein dwells the titular Video Board Game, Beyond The Gates. Unknowingly guided by spooky forces, together with the Quiet Repressed One’s Sensible Girlfriend, Margot (Brea Grant), they start playing the game at home. Prompted by the haughty video visage of Barbara Crampton In Too Much Mascara (great casting, Barbara Crampton being the Meryl Streep of ‘80s horror), it soon becomes apparent that the game is spookier than playing Buck-a-Roo with a poltergeist. It also quickly becomes apparent that completing the game holds the key to the fate of their father. Unfortunately completing the game also means collecting four keys and each key brings death to someone increasingly close to them. And once Beyond The Gates will anyone be able to make it back through the gates?

After a somewhat slothful start things do get quite eventful with some prudently placed splatter and self-effacing wit, but Beyond The Gates eventually sputters out with a lacklustre final act. It might not win any gongs, but it would take a hard heart indeed to deny there are incidental pleasures to be had. My heart just isn’t that hard. The performances are good, particularly Justin Welborn as the genially unpleasant Hank; Jesse Merlin has enormous fun with camply creepy shopkeeper Elric (alas, not a sorcerous albino with a soul sucking sword) ; and Barbara Crampton makes a performance largely consisting of expectantly looking out of a TV screen both creepy and funny. The jokes are okay, being quite funny without undermining the peril, even when the cast kvetch at the poor design choices of the boardgame.  But none of the jokes are as funny as the fact that Barbara Crampton is a credited producer on a movie in which Barbara Crampton’s character is referred to as “smokin’ hot”. I also enjoyed the way that Barbara Crampton’s mascara seems to be slowly taking over her face, luckily the movie is short and ends before she resembles a spooky Al Jolson. Sorry, a spooky “smokin’ hot” Al Jolson. But is Beyond The Gates ‘80s enough?

Unfortunately Beyond The Gates might be a bit too ‘80s, as in common with its spiritual inspirations Beyond The Gates is clearly struggling against some cruel budgetary restrictions. It disguises this inventively enough, and is sensible enough not to skimp on the gore, but in the end it all peters out with some confused wrestling in some mist, next to a free-standing gate in a basement soaked in smoke and  hot pink and icy blue lighting. Actually, that does seem really quite ‘80s in retrospect.  In other ways Beyond The Gates’s not quite ‘80s enough. You don’t give a character a problem with booze and self-control and do nothing with it; he has to be at least tempted and doom himself or actually overcome it. And if there are two estranged brothers, one of them has to sacrifice himself; it’s basic! (I think we can forgive the scarcity of tits, as this isn’t anything ‘80s video store fodder has to be proud of; some things should stay dead.) A little tighter scripting would have paid dividends, is what I’m saying. Low on budget but high on affection Beyond The Gates’ ‘80s fattened heart is ultimately in the right place; gripped in someone’s fist as they squeeze hard.

In Dan O'Bannon’s original draft of ALIEN the eggs were discovered in a Alien Pyramid.

http://www.blumhouse.com/2017/05/01/a-look-at-dan-obannons-early-designs-for-alien/

BEYOND THE GATES Is now available on DVD in the U.K.

Beyond The Gates (2016) Review

Beyond The Gates (2016) Review

I didn’t manage to go to Frightfest this year which I was gutted about as the line up looked pretty great and some of the UK premiere’s were awesome. I decided to take a look at what was shown there and try to pick out something good to watch, this one stuck out given it’s claims to be a nod to the 80’s and featuring a board game it sounded good. (more…)

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NOAH'S SHARK NOS PRESENTA SU TRÁILER OFICIAL

NOAH’S SHARK NOS PRESENTA SU TRÁILER OFICIAL

Wild Eye Releasing nos presenta NOAH’S SHARK, la nueva película de escualos de la que nos enseñan su tráiler y póster oficial. La trama de la película nos cuenta la historia de Noé quién deberá enfrentarse a un tiburón hambriento mientras intenta hacer todo lo posible por proteger a los animales en su misión divina. El productor Stephen Scarlata, ha producido títulos como Jodorowsky’s Dune lo…

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Survival of the Film Freaks on VHS is available now at WitterEntertainment.com! This 2018 documentary explores decades of technological evolution through the gritty lens of cult cinema, examining how the digital age has transformed the way underground movies are experienced. . Interview subjects include Joe Bob Briggs (MonsterVision), Ted Raimi (Evil Dead II), Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger), Adam Green (Hatchet), Greydon Clark (Without Warning), Luigi Cozzi (Starcrash), William Sachs (The Incredible Melting Man), Jackson Stewart (Beyond the Gates), Stephen Scarlata (Jodorowsky’s Dune), Rob Galluzzo (Fangoria), and more. Limited to 50 copies! . Each tape includes a letter and an exclusive introduction from co-directors Kyle Kuchta (Fantasm) and Bill Fulkerson (Outside the Cinema podcast). Stay tuned after the movie for a special feature: Making a Mood: The Music of Survival of the Film Freaks. Don’t miss out on having this awesome doc and artwork in your tape collection 📼🔪📼🔪📼 . . . . . . #filmfreaks #horrordocumentary #vhslives #vhsforever #vhstapes #vhstapesforsale #vhsandchill #joebobbriggs #lloydkaufman #vhshorrorcollector #survivalofthefilmfreaks #tapeheads #vhsart #vhscovers #indiedoc #horrornerds https://www.instagram.com/p/B3xE3tFlqqs/?igshid=f04dbye0xd3k

Film Itself: A Conversation with Producer Stephen Scarlata

In this week's podcast conversation, we talk to producer Stephen Scarlata about his latest, 'Beyond the Gates,' and so much more. The format of Film ... from Google Alert - gates http://ift.tt/2rAnuP8