Post by Quorthon on Sept 12, 2005 23:43:55 GMT -5
Piranha
Horror with Comedy elements.
1978
Color
New Concorde/New Horizons
MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: Joe Dante
USA
Remember in the 1980’s, horror films were violent and gory and every one seemed to be trying to out-nasty, out-shock, and out-do any film that came before it? Remember those times? The era of the slasher film? The world of “gore movies?” Those cheesy, bizarre, gross, weird and needlessly violent little films? Oh, I sure do. And I love to go back down memory lane to visit that shlock every now and then. And here’s one I think I’ll be revisiting several times.
Basically, some mutant piranha that can live in cold mountain environments, salt and fresh water, and have a mild ability to think get loose in a normally quite and happy mountain river lake. And they begin eating people and no one believes they’re there. Of course. At any rate, it’s pretty damn entertaining—and apparently: Pro-pollution!
Here’s the breakdown:
The Good:
--For the most part, the acting is pretty good. Not great, mind you.
--Actually pretty funny at times without being God-awful annoying (like the “comic relief” in the remake of “13 Ghosts”—some of the worst comic relief I’ve ever witnessed).
--Entertaining violence and gore.
Didn’t Hurt It, Didn’t Help:
--The piranhas don’t look too bad, and yet, you can’t help but laugh when people are being eaten. There’s something funny about it. So the horror is killed, but at least it’s still damn amusing.
--Average late 70’s atmosphere. The same as “Sleepaway Camp” (the first one), and “C.H.U.D.”
--Some cheesy writing.
--Average Cinematography for the time and genre.
The Bad:
--Not for everyone, to be sure. It’s a Roger Corman film. Either you’re gonna like it or you’re gonna hate it. Awfully cheesy, not that that’s entirely a bad thing.
--Some acting.
--Occasionally, the special effects are pretty crappy, but who cares? At least they’re funny.
The Ugly:
--The obvious “homage-to-Jaws” flavor of this movie will really kill it for some people.
Memorable Scene:
--This movie actually had the balls to have a bunch of children attacked by piranha.
Acting: 6/10
Story: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Character Development: 5/10
Special Effects/Make-up: 7/10
Nudity/Sexuality: 1/10
Violence/Gore: 7/10 (pretty decent gore)
Dialogue: 8/10
Music: 7/10 (average for the time)
Writing: 7/10
Direction: 8/10
Cheesiness: 4/10
Crappiness: 0/10
Overall: 7/10
This is a fun classic horror flick. If you like stuff like “C.H.U.D.” and wacky stuff like that from the late 70’s and 80’s, then hey, man, you’ll love this one, too. I just wish I hadn’t waited so long to get it.
Horror with Comedy elements.
1978
Color
New Concorde/New Horizons
MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: Joe Dante
USA
Remember in the 1980’s, horror films were violent and gory and every one seemed to be trying to out-nasty, out-shock, and out-do any film that came before it? Remember those times? The era of the slasher film? The world of “gore movies?” Those cheesy, bizarre, gross, weird and needlessly violent little films? Oh, I sure do. And I love to go back down memory lane to visit that shlock every now and then. And here’s one I think I’ll be revisiting several times.
Basically, some mutant piranha that can live in cold mountain environments, salt and fresh water, and have a mild ability to think get loose in a normally quite and happy mountain river lake. And they begin eating people and no one believes they’re there. Of course. At any rate, it’s pretty damn entertaining—and apparently: Pro-pollution!
Here’s the breakdown:
The Good:
--For the most part, the acting is pretty good. Not great, mind you.
--Actually pretty funny at times without being God-awful annoying (like the “comic relief” in the remake of “13 Ghosts”—some of the worst comic relief I’ve ever witnessed).
--Entertaining violence and gore.
Didn’t Hurt It, Didn’t Help:
--The piranhas don’t look too bad, and yet, you can’t help but laugh when people are being eaten. There’s something funny about it. So the horror is killed, but at least it’s still damn amusing.
--Average late 70’s atmosphere. The same as “Sleepaway Camp” (the first one), and “C.H.U.D.”
--Some cheesy writing.
--Average Cinematography for the time and genre.
The Bad:
--Not for everyone, to be sure. It’s a Roger Corman film. Either you’re gonna like it or you’re gonna hate it. Awfully cheesy, not that that’s entirely a bad thing.
--Some acting.
--Occasionally, the special effects are pretty crappy, but who cares? At least they’re funny.
The Ugly:
--The obvious “homage-to-Jaws” flavor of this movie will really kill it for some people.
Memorable Scene:
--This movie actually had the balls to have a bunch of children attacked by piranha.
Acting: 6/10
Story: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Character Development: 5/10
Special Effects/Make-up: 7/10
Nudity/Sexuality: 1/10
Violence/Gore: 7/10 (pretty decent gore)
Dialogue: 8/10
Music: 7/10 (average for the time)
Writing: 7/10
Direction: 8/10
Cheesiness: 4/10
Crappiness: 0/10
Overall: 7/10
This is a fun classic horror flick. If you like stuff like “C.H.U.D.” and wacky stuff like that from the late 70’s and 80’s, then hey, man, you’ll love this one, too. I just wish I hadn’t waited so long to get it.
