At this point, you would think that every possible premise for a film involving sharks has already been used. But writer and director Matthew A. Peters still managed to conceive a somewhat fresh and intriguing concept with his latest film, Graveyard Shark. Peters has previously directed a large number of projects, with some of his earlier films including Night Run, Brackish, Barely Coping, and Big Brood. Peters used Indiegogo to finance Graveyard Shark, which was certainly a wise decision. And he ultimately delivered a suitably prosperous film which clearly caters to its intended audience without pretending to be elegant or sophisticated.
As its name suggests, Graveyard Shark is about a shark-like monstrosity which slaughters anyone who ventures into the graveyard where it resides. The monster in question resembles a humanoid hammerhead shark, with the revelation of its origins being so absurd that you will have no choice but to laugh. And because Graveyard Shark never tries to be anything more than a campy monster movie, the suit worn by the actor who played the titular beast looked so cheap and fake that it was hilarious to observe. It was also refreshing to watch a monster movie where the monster was not created with CGI, although the film’s budget would probably not have allowed for convincing digital effects to begin with. The glorious practical gore effects were also delightful to behold, with everything from severed limbs to exposed intestines being shown in graphic detail. And as if things could not get any more ridiculous, a brutal fight between the Graveyard Shark and a werewolf also occurs in the film. Needless to say, this battle was so spectacularly outrageous that it might just be remembered as one of the best low-budget fight scenes of the year.
Although the actors obviously understood that they would not be receiving award nominations for their performances in Graveyard Shark, they still did their best to make their roles seem as authentic as they could. Stephanie Ward plays the central role of Abby, an aspiring cryptozoologist investigating the legend of the Graveyard Shark. Abby wants to make her late father proud by becoming a renowned cryptozoologist, and Ward played the role with such dedicated conviction that you really will want to see Abby succeed at all costs. There were even a number of emotional scenes in which Abby remembered her late father, with these moments proving to be surprisingly moving and poignant. You certainly would not expect Graveyard Shark to be a film which moves its viewers to tears, but the level of raw emotion displayed by Ward during these sequences will almost do exactly that.
Abby spends a large portion of the film being accompanied by her assistant, Greg, who feels deeply undervalued, regardless of all the work he does. The hapless Greg was played by Michael John Gilbert, who was cordial and empathetic in the role, effortlessly making the obliging character seem like a genuinely pleasant individual to be around. And since the urge to feel appreciated is something which everyone experiences to some extent, the woeful plight which Greg was enduring seemed all the more relatable. As the film progresses, Greg’s determination to prove his usefulness to his peers eventually results in him unleashing a dark secret which he has been hiding all along. This revelation will probably leave you feeling stunned, even if it did seem somewhat forced and arbitrary. However, the secret had been vaguely alluded to in earlier scenes, but only particularly attentive viewers would have noticed the clues.
Towards the beginning of the film, Abby and Greg are approached by Dr. Jan Lovnik (Olga N. Bogdanova), who runs a group for alleged survivors of Graveyard Shark encounters. Despite the fact that Jan initially doubts the existence of the Graveyard Shark, she also definitely wants to help those who she believes are suffering from a strange form of mass hysteria. And Bogdanova displays so much discernible empathy that you will not doubt Lovnik’s determination to help her colleagues. One of the attack survivors is a young woman called Sadie (Madisen Zabawa), who is frustrated because the Graveyard Shark killed her photographer. Sadie describes how she believes that being dead should not prevent her photographer from uploading the images, which is both hilarious and a sad representation of just how obnoxious many social media influencers can be. Zabawa captured this obnoxiousness brilliantly, although Sadie gradually became a more amiable character as she courageously helped her companions hunt down the Graveyard Shark.
On the other hand, Daniel DeFranco portrays Doug, a drug expert who frequently confuses his colleagues by mentioning the colloquial names for the various drug mixtures which he obtained throughout his travels. Although Doug’s constant references to drug mixtures with strange names did start to become a little tiresome, the character genuinely believes that drugs will ultimately lead him and his friends to a higher purpose. Therefore, Doug undeniably had noble intentions, but he still did not seem to make sense at times. But DeFranco masterfully showcased the endearing aspects of his character’s personality, which meant that everything about Doug seemed completely sincere. Doug also displayed authentic compassion whenever he shared his concoctions with others, as he truly was a substance user who you would like to have on your side in times of crisis.
And Berndele March was particularly entertaining as Captain Isaac Seyburn, an eccentric and foul-mouthed sailor who knows more about the titular monster than he initially lets on. The talented March evidently has a natural gift for comedy, since he manages to effortlessly convey Seyburn’s boisterous personality in a way which never seemed forced or implausible. Seyburn loudly makes preposterous speeches to those around him, and the charismatic performance from March will make you feel compelled to listen to whatever absurd statements the character has to say. In addition, there was also a prolonged and comedic flashback sequence depicting Seyburn being seduced by a mermaid, with March’s serious delivery throughout the scene making it all the more hysterical.
As the remaining members of the group eventually arm themselves and raid the local graveyard in an attempt to kill the monster, you will no doubt feel an unprecedented level of concern. This is because people who we have grown to care about throughout the course of the film are willingly risking their lives. The dedicated performances from the cast and the proficient script both lead to a surprising level of emotional investment, and viewers will no doubt want to see these characters emerging unscathed from their ordeal. But since it seems unlikely that everyone who entered the graveyard will be emerging in one piece, you will start to feel a palpable level of tension as the film approaches its climax.
There were also a number of memorable sequences involving the local police force. One of the most hilarious scenes in the entire film showcased two law enforcement officers making out at the scene of a gruesome killing. Clearly, the sight of a mutilated corpse obviously did nothing to reduce their relentless urges. And we are introduced to the local sheriff, who seemed completely nonchalant about the recent killing spree. His casual reaction to finding a grotesquely maimed cadaver was so indifferent that viewers will genuinely be interested in learning how he reacts when his own life is at stake. The makers of Graveyard Shark evidently understood how to make their audience laugh and to feel concern in the most morbid ways possible.
Graveyard Shark is a film which wallows in its absurdity, and fans of campy monster movies will no doubt be in for a great time. It certainly will not win any major awards or be remembered as a masterpiece, but this is still an unforgettably brash and raucous horror comedy which is simply too bizarre to be ignored. Therefore, viewers who appreciate films which refuse to embrace subtlety are going to be delighted by the brazen and downright outrageous levels of exuberance which Graveyard Shark proudly displays.
Four out of five stars
