I’ll be honest with you. I dread watching shark movies these days, not because I don’t love sharks —I absolutely do —but because the CGI in most of the films outright sucks. It’s actually borderline insulting. I know you know what I mean. So, I braced myself for more disappointment when I hit play to watch Beast of War, the new World War II-set shark movie from writer-director Kiah Roache-Turner.
The movie begins with a troupe of Australian soldiers training in the jungle. This allows us to get to know our characters, including Leo, played by Mark Coles Smith, who is the main character. Leo struggles with being accepted by his fellow soldiers because of his heritage. At the same time, he is also mourning the death of his little brother, who was killed by a great white. This is important to the story because it’s what drives him later. After training, the group returns to their ship to rest, but they are attacked by Japanese pilots, and their boat sinks. This leaves the survivors scrambling to find a floating refuge amid the ship’s wreckage.
When the men think it couldn’t get any worse, they discover a large shark is hunting them. This isn’t their only problem; things keep going wrong, with some being killed in accidents or shot by Japanese pilots.
Leo is on a mission to save everyone he can, but that isn’t easy considering the situation. In the end, he faces off with the shark in a battle of retribution for the death of his brother and his fellow soldiers, played by Joel Nankervis, Sam Delich, and Lee Tiger Halley.
Did I mention that the movie was inspired by the true story of Australian soldiers who found themselves under attack during World War II? That only adds to the film, in my opinion.
Remember, at the beginning of this review, I mentioned my absolute hatred for bad CGI sharks? That is so not a problem with Beast of War. The shark looks fantastic! The first time the shark breached the water, I was excited. The first thing that came to mind was that it reminded me of Bruce (the shark) from Jaws. And if you know anything about me, it’s that I’m a huge Jaws fan. So, finding myself impressed was a pleasant surprise.
After speaking with the director, my suspicions were confirmed. Bruce did indeed inspire the shark. It turns out he’s a big Jaws fan, too. And to top it off, the shark is practical! The director didn’t take the easy, cheaper way out. He put blood, sweat, tears, and a lot of thought into it. For that, he has earned my respect.
Beast of War is a fantastic film. It looks great, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, playing with your emotions. There’s something for everyone: drama, action, gore, and a story that pulls you in. This film is an excellent example of a creature feature done right. Bravo to the filmmaker, cast, and crew.
Beast of War is out now on VOD, and if you couldn’t already tell, I highly recommend it! It’s a must-see!
