Quick Movie Reviews
Rating of
2.5/4
Indyfreak - wrote on 08/01/2021
Joe Dante's riff on the Jaws formula reportedly received Spielberg's own seal of approval, avoiding a costly lawsuit accusing this horror-comedy of plagiarism. There are some similarities to JAWS (a community threatened by aquatic predators) but PIRANHA distinguishes itself thanks to a weirdly offbeat sensibility that Dante would later hone in for his later movies like Gremlins or Innerspace. The poor special effects are a bit disappointing but the gore and Dante's willingness to let the title creatures attack and kill men, women, and children alike lends to a high body count. Dillman is serviceable as the everyman protagonist but Heather Menzies steals the movie as a brave if ditzy sidekick.
Rating of
2/4
Yojimbo - wrote on 07/12/2012
Daft B-movie semi-spoof that sees a murderous shoal of piranhas munching through local inhabitants. It's not particularly funny or scary, but it's inoffensive enough. Fans of Arachnophobia will probably like it.
Rating of
2/4
WestIsBest - wrote on 11/17/2007
Not as good as I expected. Being a fan of Joe Dante, I thought this would be funny in a quirky way, much like Gremlins or The 'Burbs but it was played as a horror film. Granted it was still a B Movie and it didn't take itself seriously but it wasn't as light-hearted as I anticipated. It was a bit of a disappointment.
