As I’ve mentioned in some earlier reviews, late August represents the end of the summer movie season, and with Piranha 3D, it looked like Hollywood chose a very interesting way to bid farewell to summer moviegoers. It’s been quite a while since audiences last saw a decent creature horror film, memorable entries like Jaws, Arachnophobia, Anaconda, and Lake Placid recently overshadowed by a near-endless stream of B-movie embarrassments that are often relegated to the Syfy channel. Piranha 3D is actually the second remake of the 1978 original, and though many might have rolled their eyes at the premise, the presence of an ensemble cast and 3D technology seemed to promise a pretty high level of entertainment. The previews weren’t promising anything emotionally deep or award-winning…Piranha 3D was going to be a summer thriller designed to engage and startle audiences, and for that reason I knew I had to see it.
Despite the fact that Piranha 3D will have me second-guessing ever swimming in a lake or river again, I still loved the film. This horror film is entertaining in the most shameless way, delivering the most gratuitous nudity and violence I have ever seen, all while being genuinely scary. If you thought you were afraid of sharks after Jaws, that’s nothing compared to what Piranha 3D will do to your opinion of small carnivorous fish…anytime you see any of the characters go near the water, you’re questioning why they ever left dry land. The ensemble cast is made up of diverse and likable characters that the audience easily connects with, so that you’re genuinely disappointed when one of them falls into the piranha-infested waters. All of these positives are enhanced by the use of 3D technology, so that you jump when these fish start swarming. Though a creature horror film with ridiculous amounts of nudity and violence may not be for everyone, if you’re looking for an entertaining thriller, then Piranha 3D should not be missed.
For more information, please read the full review.
Overall Recommendation: High
