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| Image courtesy of Shudder |
Inspired by the success of Steven Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster Jaws, sharksploitation films came onto the scene to capitalize on society's fascination and fear of sharks. Known for their exaggerated and often ridiculous plotlines, they became a cult favorite among audiences looking for campy fun. First-time director Stephen Scarlata does a deep dive into the history of these films in his new Shudder documentary, and it shows the good, the bad, and the ugly of this subgenre that has become increasingly played for laughs over the years.
Featuring interviews from notable cult film heavyweights like Roger Corman and Joe Dante, Sharksploitation is a thorough examination of every facet of these films. The documentary’s content ranges from behind-the-scenes stories about the films to their overall cultural significance. Interspersed with compelling tidbits about shark folklore and enlightening facts about sharks themselves, Sharksploitation is an ambitious exploration of this subject matter for any fan of these exploitation films.
One of the most impressive aspects of this documentary is the vast number of interesting characters they assemble for it. Every talking head is more interesting than the next, and they all speak with a great deal of enthusiasm and passion about the subject matter. Even more obscure people like the marine biologists in the documentary are a delight to watch and seem to love these films, and as a result, it makes the source material all the more fun to dissect. The sheer volume of films examined here is highly impressive too: from the most well-known works in the subgenre to long-forgotten flicks, a great deal of love was put into the making of this documentary and it shines through.
Another interesting and somewhat unexpected aspect of this documentary is its emphasis on shark conservation and the bad rap sharks receive in the media. Exploring how sharks became aligned with villains in franchises like the classic James Bond films, Scarlata depicts how sharks have become unjustly vilified over the years. Moreover, sharksploitation films are considered exploitative for good reason: not only are the films leading to unnecessary fear and hunting of these creatures, but many sharks were killed in the making of these films, and even a few humans – at least one of whom’s death made it to the final cut of the film that was released. These sobering facts help audiences realize the dark side of this subgenre, and how it wasn’t always the CG-heavy campfest it is today.
Although Sharksploitation’s thoroughness is admirable, sometimes the documentary sprawls a bit too much and lacks focus. Some sections are broken down into eras, while other times they’re broken down into themes, which makes the film feel slightly scatterbrained at times. The comprehensive nature of this documentary effortlessly gives it a nearly two-hour running time, which might also feel a bit too long with information overload for more casual fans or newcomers to these films.
While the plots of sharksploitation films were often filled with absurdity, they served as a unique reflection of society's fascination with the ocean and nature’s unknowns, capitalizing on our deep-seated fear of what lurks beneath the surface while tapping into our primal anxieties. Despite their often low production values and over-the-top nature, sharksploitation films are a thrilling escape from reality for audiences and have a permanent, one-of-a-kind place in cinematic history. For anyone who wants to learn more about these films, sink your teeth into Sharksploitation.
—Andrea Riley