KROCODYLUS

A television crew is determined to make a feature on a new type of extreme sport, bloodsurfing, which is classic surfing performed, however, in waters infested with hungry sharks. Everything goes as planned, and the premises for making an adrenaline-filled sports documentary are all there until some unexpected event prepares to surface. Once ashore, the surfers and the entire crew will notice that something unusual is happening in those waters: something is devouring and agitating the sharks. What could it possibly be? Simple, a marine crocodile of enormous size that has infested those waters for years and is now intent on feasting on all the members of the television crew. I know what many of you are thinking: "Enough with these beast movies!" I can't blame you. This sub-genre of horror is becoming a bit like parsley, especially regarding the vast direct-to-video market, but what is most disheartening is that such films, most of the time, are all damnably alike, making it even difficult to remember them all exactly without confusing one with another. However, there is something to note that, albeit rarely, some "reckless" film emerges that decides to bring some small, tiny variation to the theme so that the work can enjoy greater personality and, thus, increase the chances of being remembered and distinguished from the rest of the identical products. The film in question, "Blood Surf," is one of these "reckless" films because it decides to follow the usual, trite story, adding, however, some tiny variation capable of making the film unique in its genre. Released in 2000 (in Italy only for the home video market) directed by James D.R. Hickox ("Killer Klowns from Outer Space 3," "Wild - Ambush on the Mountain") and also known by the less interesting title (because too conformist to the mass) "Crocodylus," the film had the potential to offer something vaguely interesting (relatively speaking) because it possessed some nice innovative tricks, but unfortunately, the film does not take full advantage of the potential available, and thus, the final result of the film will not be much different from the medium-low level usually reached by this type of films. Among the positive aspects, the beginning of the plot (this is where most of the film's "originality" lies) will surely be noted because the idea of bloodsurfing as the trigger for horror is quite nice, and singular is the way in which the film tries to deceive the viewer by suddenly introducing a giant crocodile where the film seemed to have focused its attention on the sharks. But after these tiny aspects, the film is no longer able to offer positive and/or interesting facets. It is worth noting that most of the blame for the film's poor success lies with the amateurish screenplay, which manages to start off on the right foot (offering a good pace and capable of giving enough personality to the characters, who, this time, are only a small group of individuals and not the solid squadron of teenagers put there just to die) but, alas, begins to sink into absolute banality right from the moment the marine giant crocodile bursts onto the scene. After the appearance of the big reptile, the film begins to exceed in a truckload of clichés and abundant scenes with a high trash factor, out of place and at the limits of tolerance. A disastrous task is also performed on the characterization of the characters, who, as the film progresses towards the end, begin to assume unbelievable and absolutely forced attitudes (see the character of the producer who, without any logical rigor, begins to act like a "villain"). The crocodile's performance is sufficient, achieved through the use of various techniques (real crocodiles and nice, albeit unconvincing, mechanical and rubber puppets), but never will recourse be made to the annoying (especially when it comes, as in this film, to meager budgets) but much-abused computer graphic. Appreciable may also be the presence of some quite gory scenes that attempt to delve into splatter; the performances of the actors are quite insufficient. In conclusion, "Blood Surf" is a pure B-series horror that starts off well but then collapses completely as the minutes progress. A missed opportunity for the realization of an out-of-the-ordinary beast movie. It still deserves half a vote more.