Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Animal attack movies returning for the kill

In April, I wrote about the coming wave of animal attack movies and TV shows.
This spring and summer saw the theatrical rerelease of lion attack movie “Roar” (1981) and shark attack classic “Jaws” (1975). In June, CBS premiered “Zoo,” a drama about a mysterious rise in animal attacks worldwide.
On Dec. 11, the whale attack movie “In the Heart of the Sea” is set to hit theaters.
Since my article three months ago, more animal attack movies have cropped up.
I overlooked the limited theatrical run of “Backcountry” about campers terrorized by a man-eating bear. The film, starring Missy Peregrym and Eric Balfour, had a limited theatrical release starting March 20 and is set for home video release on Sept. 1. The movie received 86% positive reviews from the critics at Rotten Tomatoes.
Another killer bear movie, “Into the Grizzly Maze,” had a limited theatrical run starting June 26. It stars James Marsden, Thomas Jane, Piper Perabo and Billy Bob Thornton. But critics weren’t so kind to it. “Into the Grizzly Maze” scored just 30% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
With shark attacks on the East Coast of the U.S. making headlines this summer, Hollywood interest in sharks has perked up. Cable TV has long been fascinated with sharks, what with Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week and the “Sharknado” TV films. But now movie studios are taking a bite.
Warner Bros. is working on a shark attack movie based on the tragic case of the USS Indianapolis.
Sony Pictures is looking to produce shark thriller “In the Deep.” Deadline describes it as “a cross between ‘127 Hours’ and ‘Jaws,’ with a touch of ‘Gravity’ thrown in for good measure.”
Horror director Eli Roth is set to direct giant shark movie “Meg” for Warner Bros. It’s about a megalodon threatening modern-day shores, EW reports.
And finally, Film School Rejects reports that a remake/reboot of rabid dog movie “Cujo” is in the works. The original was based on a Stephen King novel.

Photos: Posters for “Backcountry” and “Into the Grizzly Maze.”


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