Piranha (2010)

Alexandra Aja has made quite an impact on the horror scene since emerging to the mainstream with Haute Tension (also known as Switchblade Romance) back in 2003. Followed up by his effective and harrowing remake of the Hills Have Eyes and it became clear that he was a major new voice. He helped lead the way to the latest generation of horror directors pushing the envelope and creating intense and disturbing experiences. After the apparent misfire of Mirrors, his next film (one I have not seen) he returns now to the remake pool but with a very different sensibility. Rather than take Joe Dante's schlocky 1978 movie about prehistoric piranhas wreaking havoc on spring break, and re-working it into a modern day serious horror film he instead has done the complete opposite. Piranha takes everything that was goofy and silly about the original and amplifies it. Right from the opening scene with it's knowing nod to Jaws this is never a film in danger of taking itself at all seriously, and to its credit it sticks with this throughout. 

Those craving a film with any sort of depth or character development are likely to be disappointed, likewise those after any kind of real shocks and scares. However if you are in the mood and willing to hand yourself over for the films brief 80 minute runtime then there's a lot to enjoy here.

Elizabeth Shue has the occasionally thankless task of playing the straight sheriff role in the film, and the majority of the film concerns itself with her and her family and the fallout from the earthquake which releases the killer piranhas into the lake of a small town, currently overpopulated with bikini-laden teenagers enjoying spring break. It's a great set-up for a film and Aja builds slow and whilst the film is rather garish and exploitative in tone this is very deliberate, and sets up the back end of the film nicely. Steven R. McQueen (the R is for the sake of avoiding confusion I would wager) plays Jake, the son of the sheriff who somehow manages to find himself working on a boat offshore for an adult film director (Jerry O'Connell clearly enjoying playing the slimiest character possible) when the proverbial hits the fan.

And really that's what the film is all about. The tone is light and enjoyable enough that it is never boring, but there is a definite switch is gear as the second half of the film kicks in and the piranhas are let loose. What follows is a wonderfully ridiculous and over the top string of set pieces and scenes that milk every possible angle from the premise. There are missing limbs, more blood than your average hospital and an inspired use of a speedboat engine. Aja actually manages to put together some tense and well paced scenes at the top end of the film and it ends fairly strongly. He is a good enough director to know where to tow the line on the gore and silliness and manages to keep your interest in the few main characters to the end.

Overall this is a pure teflon film, nothing from it is likely to stick with you, and in terms of artistic value and merit it scores pretty low. But for those times when you feel like kicking back and watching something entertaining and downright deranged you could do a lot worse.