|
 (053126)
Thrash is an emotionally manipulative, direct-to-Netflix movie that combines two
popular genres: disaster films and shark attacks. The film was supposed to get a
proper theatrical release, but it was unceremoniously dumped onto Netflix at the
last minute. It merges together many plot elements from 70's disaster films like
The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Towering Inferno (1974), and Earthquake (1974),
along with plot story elements from killer fish thrillers like Jaws (1975), The
Deep (1977), Piranha (1978), and the more recent Meg (2018). Thrash also has
some similarities to the Syfy Sharknado film series (2013-2020), in which sharks
learn to ride waves during tornadoes. Unfortunately, Thrash is more inept, less
absurd, and hilariously worse than those films.
Thrash went through several title changes. It started out as Beneath the Storm,
which I consider the best title, then became Shiver, and then finally Thrash.
The title shifts are important because they reflect the fact that the film lacks
both consistency and a central vision.
Directed and written by the Norwegian filmmaker Tommy Wirkola, a horror
specialist who has in his past films effectively combined comedy, thrills,
alternate history, and gore. He is best known for directing the two Nazi zombie
films Dead Snow (2007) and its sequel, Dead Snow 2: Dead vs Red (2014). He also
made Violent Night (2022), a surprisingly good and well-received Santa slasher
film, and he is currently working on its direct sequel, Violent Night 2, which
is scheduled to be released this year on December 4. His worst film is generally
seen as the genre-bending action/horror thriller Hansel and Gretel: Witch
Hunters (2010).
This his latest film features a competent cast populated with many recognizable
TV stars. The cast includes: Phoebe Dynevor, who won a BAFTA nomination for
Bridgerton (2020-2022), Whitney Peak from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
(2019-2020), and Djimon Hounsou from Rebel Moon Netflix films (2021-2023). In
the war between the decent actors and the lackluster script, the script usually
wins.
Thrash takes place in Annieville, South Carolina, and effectively uses its ocean
side setting. At the start, various characters are preparing for the imminent
arrival of a Category 5 Hurricane. Some evacuate the town to seek shelter
inland, but others are unable to leave and are trapped, desperately hoping they
will be rescued. The water keeps rising after the levees break, and a group of
sharks starts moving towards the more populated part of the town, anticipating a
quick, easy lunch.
Dee, Ron, and Will are three unlucky foster kids who are adopted by an
unscrupulous con man named Billy Olsen. He receives huge welfare checks that he
uses to buy expensive steaks for himself and his girlfriend, Rachel. But he
always neglects the kids and only gives them bread to eat. He takes no chances
personally, but he gets the kids to risk their own lives doing dangerous chores
by arguing that "sharks never eat kids". Viewers can be forgiven for hoping he
dies in the most brutal way possible before the end of the film.
Phoebe Dynevor portrays the films most sympathetic character, Lisa, an
agoraphobic pregnant woman who works at a meatpacking plant. She gets trapped
after she has to rely on strangers to survive from minute to minute, and also
perhaps to help deliver the baby. Another sympathetic character is Dale Edwards
(Djimon Hounsou from Amistad), a Marine researcher who puts his own life at risk
by coming into the flooding town to rescue the previously mentioned Lisa, who is
his niece.
The two main plot threads are set up to intersect, but they never do. It’s as if
the filmmakers had a pretty good idea for a script, but they never had the time
to finish it or follow through. And while Thrash is at times thrilling, and the
special effects are ok, the script rarely offers anything startlingly new and
feels undercooked. The characters al suffer from this because in order to
believe the situations they get themselves into, you have to think they are all
remarkably stupid. Additionally, it’s annoyingly easy to predict what will
happen to them and how eaches predicament will ultimately play out.
So, although it is not completely worthless, it is basically an
undistinguished time-waster.
|
