In my viewing universe, putting the label of "popcorn film" on a given title is usually positive. The nomenclature separates something that is not particularly special but better than most of the stuff found on today's Channel-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named, and usually focuses on marauding critter-type movies. If compared with the small sub-genre we've entitled Survival Horror here on the board (examples: The Canyon; Frozen; Open Water; The Reef), a popcorn film would barely qualify due to a lack of naturalistic conditions for the buildup of suspense or terror. But... for various reasons, a popcorn film is entertaining. Bait qualifies for this.
Recently released on Netflix (and I assume directly to DVD across the board), Bait is purely and simply another shark attack movie that is set up with a High Concept that must be accepted right from the beginning -- a tsunami engulfs a seaside area without any warning (not sure if it's in Australia or Indonesia, but credit list some location shots from the latter), traps a number of people split between the ground floor of a supermarket, and a below-level parking garage. Two large Great White Sharks come in with the water, and divide their time and food supply between those two locations. Thus, the film is both a survival film of sorts, and one of those seemingly unlimited supply of CGI-based critter films shown ad nauseam on the above-mentioned channel.
The main difference between this film and run-of-the-mill CGI-fests is the attention given to the staged situation, and just a tad more seriousness paid to character development and acting, although the melodramatic nature of the script is very predictable. Bait is thus pretty run-of-the-mill, as we watch and wait for the next victim. But this is an independent film rather than one sanctioned by that TV channel, and so there are numerous F-bombs and really copious amounts of chewed victims and victim parts. There is also the inclusion of what appears to be legitimate sharks now and then, and some of the attacks look pretty good. Production values are high enough to make this a good-looking film.
If I have to offer a closer comparison, I would rank this along with the recent Shark Attack in terms of trying to tell a decent story (with sharks), and also Deep Blue Sea (although DBS is a level above in many categories). You won't find the naturalistic terror of Open Water or The Reef here, but you might be pleasantly surprised. I was, and my wife got a big kick out of it.
... Reed
Recently released on Netflix (and I assume directly to DVD across the board), Bait is purely and simply another shark attack movie that is set up with a High Concept that must be accepted right from the beginning -- a tsunami engulfs a seaside area without any warning (not sure if it's in Australia or Indonesia, but credit list some location shots from the latter), traps a number of people split between the ground floor of a supermarket, and a below-level parking garage. Two large Great White Sharks come in with the water, and divide their time and food supply between those two locations. Thus, the film is both a survival film of sorts, and one of those seemingly unlimited supply of CGI-based critter films shown ad nauseam on the above-mentioned channel.
The main difference between this film and run-of-the-mill CGI-fests is the attention given to the staged situation, and just a tad more seriousness paid to character development and acting, although the melodramatic nature of the script is very predictable. Bait is thus pretty run-of-the-mill, as we watch and wait for the next victim. But this is an independent film rather than one sanctioned by that TV channel, and so there are numerous F-bombs and really copious amounts of chewed victims and victim parts. There is also the inclusion of what appears to be legitimate sharks now and then, and some of the attacks look pretty good. Production values are high enough to make this a good-looking film.
If I have to offer a closer comparison, I would rank this along with the recent Shark Attack in terms of trying to tell a decent story (with sharks), and also Deep Blue Sea (although DBS is a level above in many categories). You won't find the naturalistic terror of Open Water or The Reef here, but you might be pleasantly surprised. I was, and my wife got a big kick out of it.
... Reed
