PopHorror Let's Get Scared
It’s that time of year again. Grab your popcorn and your life jackets, because Shark Week is here once again! Not only is it time for finally get to see Shaq swimming with Great Whites, but the annual tradition is also celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. With this year being such a monumental occasion, we at PopHorror thought that we would poll our writers and ask them the most important question they would ever answer on a Thursday…
What is your favorite shark movie… besides Jaws?
After many minutes of consideration, here’s what we came up with. Enjoy!
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Jazmine Hiller: Deep Blue Sea for sure. I love the actors and it’s the only shark movie that doesn’t make sharks people eaters to begin with. It’s after the are experiment on by humans that they become people eaters. Also, I love Thomas Jane (laughs).
The Shallows (2016)
Paige Davis: I pick The Shallows. It had intense moments. I really liked that it was a shark being a shark. Not a shark who was taunted into wanting to kill a person if that makes sense. Just a normal shark trying to get its dinner. But it was seriously well made. The shark didn’t look stupid. It scared me too, honestly.
Karli Ray: The Shallows is one of the most beautifully shot films I’ve ever seen. It’s also very intense, and the main character was someone I was actually rooting for.
Lacy Lou: The Shallows was one of the very first reviews I ever I did for PopHorror, so it’s very near and dear to my heart. Not only that, but the film was definitely an intense nail biter! Oh, and Steven Seagull stole the show. I love that little bird!
Matthew Solomon: Initially, I thought, “How are they going to make an interesting movie out of Blake Lively stuck on a rock?” but the tension and anxiety in The Shallows was incredible. Also, this was one of the most beautifully filmed movies I’ve ever seen. The picture quality is just unbelievable.
Open Water (2003)
Christine Burnham: I pick Open Water because the filmmakers employed actual shark wranglers for a specific group of sharks to be filmed. Of course, sometimes freelance sharks would show up and complicate the shoot.
47 Meters Down (2017)
Jennifer Bonges: 47 Meters Down… that film gave me such anxiety!
Paige Davis: That movie freaked me out. There were times that I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Beneath (2013)
Matthew L. Furman: It’s more of a giant killer fish movie, but Larry Fessenden’s Beneath is pretty uncomfortable viewing. Watching the teens turn on each other is more brutal than the monster. Crisis brings out old resentments and slights, and you can tell immediately that the story is more about group dynamics than what appears to be a giant killer catfish.
Sharknado (2013)
Ruben Shaw: Because it’s making America bait again.
Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014)
Wade Wainio: It’s more action packed and fun than the first one. There are many cameos (including some cringe-worthy ones, especially in retrospect). Lady Liberty makes a very special appearance. Also, you obviously have sharks in tornadoes. Ever wanted to see Biz Markie stab a shark with a knife in a pizzeria? Well, here’s your chance.
Orca (1977)
Joshua O’Rourke: Everyone already mentioned Deep Blue Sea. Can Orca be an honorable mention?
The Bay (2012)
Tracy Allen: There are no other shark movies for me. Sigh… although I do love The Bay. Does that count? Sea Lice are kinda the opposite of giant sharks, though. It’s a riddle wrapped inside a mystery inside an enigma, as they say.
So what are your favorite shark movies besides Jaws? Let us know in the comments below. And Happy Shark Week!
