Before we dive into the movie review, I think it is important that I tell you about the legend of El Demonio Negro, The Black Demon. It has been said that the massive beast, which has a black top half, is between 30 and 50 feet long, leaving some convinced that it is, in reality, a surviving Megladon. There have been many reports and sightings of the beast throughout the Sea of Cortez near Mexico for decades. The film takes inspiration from the Black Demon’s legend and supersizes it.
Warning Spoilers ahead.
Josh Lucus stars as a father on a work/vacation with his family. He’s tasked with the job of inspecting an oil rig. But he and his family find themselves trapped on the rusty rig by a massive shark with the Rig’s two remaining employees. They must fight to survive and find a way to escape.
Throughout the movie, details emerge about just how big of an asshole Lucus’ character, Paul, is. He’s been covering up for the company for years, including hiding the massive amount of oil spilling into the ocean, and that’s what woke up the shark/god. It’s a classic case of humans destroying nature and nature fighting back.
Before the second half, it’s obvious that Paul is the villain. He is so unlikable. Instead of cheering for him, I found myself cheering for the shark. Paul’s attitude and the family’s frequent fighting are a huge distraction. Their squabbling takes you out of the film. Frankly, it’s obnoxious.
As for the rest of the cast, they played their parts well, especially young Carlos Solórzano, who was the heart of the film.
I do appreciate that the film gave a nod to Jaws. In one scene, we see the Black Demon jump out of the water while a score, very similar to the iconic one in Jaws, played. The shark looked good. Unfortunately, we don’t actually get to see most of its attacks. Most take place at a distance which was disappointing. There are only two shots where briefly get a look at the whole shark. I don’t know, I guess I expected more bite from the movie.
Here’s my verdict, The Black Demon isn’t completely terrible, it has its moments, but it’s not good either. The writing is the issue. It’s the fussing and fighting, and Paul being such an asshole turned me off. It was clear from the beginning that Paul would be on the menu. The movie was also a bit predictable. I wanted to watch a shark movie, not a family drama.
. If you want to watch The Black Demon, you can find it on VUDU.
