I’m going to start off this review by stating BAIT 3D is one of the better shark movies I’ve seen in a while. I honestly don’t think I’ve been this entertained by a shark flick since I reviewed THE REEF last year (click here to read that review). This Australian film is very well done and has plenty of intensity to go around.
If you’re not familiar with BAIT 3D, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of Anchor Bay:
When a monstrous freak tsunami hits a sleep Australian beach community, a group of survivors from different walks of life find themselves trapped inside a submerged grocery store. As they try to escape to safety, they soon discover that there is a predator among them more deadly than the threat of drowning -- vicious Great White sharks lurking in the water, starved for fresh meat. As the bloodthirsty sharks begin to pick the survivors off one by one, the group realizes that they must work together to find a way out without being eaten alive.
When I read the plot synopsis, my first concern was that the movie would be hokey and therefore a so-bad-it’s-good type of film. But thankfully, BAIT 3D is not hokey at all and presents a shockingly good time instead. There’s plenty of action and horror, not to mention a few tidbits of dark humor along the way.
BAIT 3D is shot very well and the 3D looks excellent. Underwater movies in 3D format work very well for me and I usually enjoy them quite a bit; this one is no exception. The colors are vivid and the shark effects are impressively realistic. The production team even used practical effects for the sharks on some scenes, an aspect that only raises the enjoyment value for me.
The acting in BAIT 3D is very good as well, with the talented Xavier Samuel and the beautiful Phoebe Tonkin headlining a great cast. I am not familiar with either’s previous work, but I must say that both do a fantastic job in their roles for this film. Supporting actor Julian McMahon, Mr. Victor von Doom from FANTASTIC FOUR himself, also does a great job; I usually enjoy seeing him onscreen and he does not disappoint in this role.
The gore in this film looks great and as mentioned, the special effects do not disappoint. The CG used for the sharks is impressive, as are the effects used for the tsunami itself. I also found myself notedly impressed with the sets; the production team did a great job with creating a natural-disaster-struck locale.
But the intensity and the suspense is what wins BAIT 3D for me. There’s a lot of tension in just about every scene and the audience never gets tired of seeing someone eaten by one of the sharks. My sole complaint about this film is how the final shark is killed off; I didn’t find this very plausible. But that is a small complaint compared to how great the rest of the movie is.
BAIT 3D is a definite win for me and one that I’m urging you to watch for sure. Definitely check it out on Blu-ray, but bump up to 3D if you can; you won’t be disappointed. The film hit store shelves yesterday, so be sure and pick this one up today.