Unfamiliar Waters

I recently watched a movie called "The Black Demon," a 2023 sci-fi horror thriller directed by Adrian Grumberg. It stars Josh Lucas, Fernanda Arey Hola, and Hector Jimenez. The story revolves around a family stranded on a crumbling oil rig in Baja Mexico, facing off against a vengeful Megalodon shark. I had to go to the drive-ins to watch it since it's on limited release, but it might be available on streaming platforms or VOD soon.

Initially, I was excited about this movie. The setting in Mexico and the predominantly Hispanic cast intrigued me. The actors delivered solid performances, and the overall production had a decent budget. The shark visuals, while not top-notch, were still enjoyable and not overly cheesy. However, my frustration grew as the movie progressed due to its heavy-handed message.

"The Black Demon" attempts to convey a strong environmental message about the destruction caused by big oil companies. While I agree with the overall sentiment, the execution was extremely blunt and lacking nuance. It felt reminiscent of another film I recently reviewed, "Nefarious," where the message was forced upon the audience without subtlety. Even if I agree with the movie's message, I prefer a more artful and well-crafted storytelling approach.

The problem lies in the mismatch between the movie's premise and its delivery. A movie about a giant megalodon shark is not typically expected to be a profound exploration of environmental issues. Viewers anticipate a fun, action-packed shark movie with some campiness. Unfortunately, "The Black Demon" heavily emphasizes its message to the point of annoyance. The ending, in particular, was predictable and lacked originality.

What frustrates me even more is the larger issue within the film industry. Studios continue to allocate significant budgets to projects like this, which are poorly written and lack passion. Meanwhile, there are talented indie filmmakers with fresh and original ideas who struggle to secure funding. It baffles me why these studios don't invest in these talented individuals and produce unique and entertaining movies.

In the case of "The Black Demon," there was potential in the acting performances, particularly from the Latino cast. Josh Lucas, despite his acting skills, was burdened by a poorly written character that lacked believability. The kids' performances were commendable, but the script and dialogue failed to support them. The movie's attempt to incorporate Aztec spirituality felt forced and didn't quite hit the mark.

While "The Black Demon" may still entertain shark movie enthusiasts to some extent, there are far better shark movies out there. I could easily compile a list of 30 shark movies that surpass it in quality and enjoyment. This movie simply lacks the fun and creativity that a shark film should deliver. I urge viewers to wait for it to be available for free streaming rather than spending money on it.

To conclude, my frustration with "The Black Demon" stems from the broader issue of studios investing in subpar projects while neglecting talented filmmakers. Despite some positive aspects, such as the cast's performances, the heavy-handed messaging and predictable ending detracted from the overall experience. It's important to remember that horror can be fun, but this movie failed to strike the right balance.