Overview:
There is a new creature feature horror comedy mix ‘Graveyard Shark’ directed and written by Matthew A. Peters. Set to be released in 2024, the film takes place in a small town where a shark haunts the grave, attacking the inhabitants. The aim of the movie becomes clearer as it tends to focus on low budget laughs and mocks the horror genre while satirizing the fusion of gore, suspense and humor.
The movie has successfully received a lot of attention especially after the trailer was released on June 7, 2024. In a short span of time the movie has managed to gain a lot of attention because of the boldness, creativity and quite an out of the box storyline.
Synopsis:
The film is based in a small town named Willsboro Point, a place where scary and dark tales of the graveyard are passed from generation to generation. The island is famous for a creature known as Graveyard Shark, which is a terrifying beast that is said to hunt after the sun goes down and any one who dares to step in the graveyard.
When accounts of cut-up corpses begin to appear, the myth shifts into the nightmarish real. The cryptid hunter Abby Wescott (Stephanie Ward) gets contacted by Dr. Jan Lovnik (Olga N. Bogdanova), who is a scientist interested in this specific creature. Weary from years of chasing mythical creatures which mostly turned out to be hoaxes, she taking on this job reluctantly only to realize that she is caught up into something that is more dangerous than she had expected.
To document the investigation that Abby set off on, she turns towards Captain Isaac Seyburn (Berndele March), a sea captain who claims to have come across the creature over seventy years earlier. They include an advertising Sheriff McDermott (Ryan Santiago) and social media influencer Sadie (Madisen Zabawa) along with the teaming locals to the middle of the cemetery for some adventure and perhaps the truth.
It began as an expedition to search for the truth and answers, but it turned into an astounding struggle for life as it turns out the Graveyard Shark is more tricky and way, for sure, over the top ferocious than anyone expected it to be. In the epic Grand Finale, Abby along with her team faces the creature in a bloody War that was filled with chaos and turns that were saw many unforeseen circumstances.
Cast and Crew:
Director & Writer: Matthew A. Peters
Main Cast:
- Stephanie Ward as Abby Wescott: A hired hunter for the wild with a bucketload of wit and trauma all behind her.
- Michael John Gilbert as Greg: Michael, a public relations representative, nurses and saves local publications.
- Berndele March as Captain Isaac Seyburn: A tough sea captain well acquainted with the genesis of the beast.
- Ryan Santiago as Sheriff McDermott: The citizen in charge of law enforcement who is an uneasy constabulary in the town.
- Madisen Zabawa as Sadie: A social media representative who portrays the gruesome creature of the film as an unbelievable yet amusing character.
- Olga N. Bogdanova as Dr. Jan Lovnik: A professor who pursues every lead related to the shark which is the gravestone.
Direction and Style:
In Graveyard Shark, Matthew A. Peters is aware of and exploits the tackiness of the older drama B-movies. It luxuriates in the levity of its ridiculous premise, interspersing suspense moments with humor of the most outrageous kind. Peters used practical effects to create the shark which is the gimmick of the film, providing a proper 80s/90s horror experience. Admittedly, the effects were sometimes borderline corny, but it did contribute to the warm feelings and nostalgia for popularity the film garnered.
The cinematography had the mixture qualities of horror: haunted cemeteries with fog, dark moon and strange shadows heightened the experience. It was uneven in its pacing; the dull moments were to build suspense only for a climactic fight or graphic murder to ensue afterwards.
Themes and Symbolism:
As an exploration of fear, mythology, and the monster-making instinct present in each one of us, “Graveyard Shark” has a lot to what it is striving for. This movie reflects on how urban myths can become an integral part of a society but at the same time touches upon the person’s obsession, be it Abby’s hunting down of the beast or Sadie’s seeking to become famous. At the center of the movie, the cryptid that is the shark in the coffin serves as a symbol of the compounded fears or resentment and the skeletons in the closet. The audience of the film aren’t overwhelmed by the burdening of themes the plot tackles through the subtle comical aspects.
Critical Reception:
There is a level of contention regarding the aspects related to the decorum and pacing in the movie hence yielding mixed critic responses which can be found in “Graveyard Shark”. Such contradictory responses towards the film are reflected on social media platforms as well, as it is rated at 3.3/10 on IMDb with 166 feedbacks wherein numerous people display differing emotions and views towards the film. As a few reviewers have noted, while the movie does display excellent creativity and ghost closeup practices, others weren’t pleased with the developments of multiple characters intertwining with the coherent plot line.
David Gelmini of Infamous Horror: “A shark, some graves, and a good amount of gore with jokes a lot is what the film promises and at the same time delivers, it is funny with an absurd sense of humor, and never fails to showcase the gruesome elements it possesses.”
Geof Capodanno of Bloody Disgusting: “A shark, some graves, and a good amount of gore with jokes a lot is what the film promises and at the same time delivers, it is funny with an absurd sense of humor, and never fails to showcase the gruesome elements it possesses.”
However, the cult caused by such childish ridicule in overacting, infact becomes its the selling point. And so, as of every internet trend or norm that has donned some outrageous depiction, this cult film has its fair share of support, while earning the anticipation of more trolls.
Box Office Performance:
“Graveyard Shark” started off slow in terms of numbers at the box office and found it very difficult to expand its core audience pool which left it with a niche ideal. While it was definitely flexed off by movies with more recognition, this film’s authenticity screams it’s different which made it the talk of the town due to its underground cult. Further, its streaming content fared even better.
Legacy:
Expecting every audience to respond positively to humor in the film would be rather foolish. However, for a reserved sector, the film blends the genre of comedy and horror in way that immerses the viewer into it. Additionally, the fact that it is still rooted in over the top humor and practical effects completely detaches it from the realm of reality and guarantees that fanatics of low budget monster movies will always have an attachment to this film.
Conclusion: All in all, the film “Graveyard Shark” mixes lightheartedness with some action, gore, and humor. Some likely salivate in burning rage at how poorly this film was conceived, but those who appreciate creatively engaging B movies will profusely relish this. Whether laughing, gory violence, or the pure ridiculousness of a humanoid shark attacking the cemetery has brought you here, we guarantee you that gentle amnesia solution with which we are not unfamiliar.
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