Shark Assault at Warm Water Pools: The Movie Acknowledges Its Silliness
In the coastal Japanese hamlet of Atsumi, known for its hot springs, an unusual crisis has arisen. The mayor, in a bid to boost tourism, has built an ostentatious hotel using a giant 3D printer. However, the town's economy, which revolves around onsens (hot springs), is under threat due to a series of shark attacks.
The victims were bathing in spa pools, not the nearby ocean, and the number of mutilated corpses matches the number of missing tourists. These sharks are not ordinary; they are ancient creatures with the ability to squeeze through the smallest gaps, swim through plumbing pipes, and even magically form hot springs throughout the community to attack residents and tourists.
The film, *Hot Spring Shark Attack*, directed by Morihito Inoue in his feature debut, handles this presence with wild absurdity and comedic flair. The sharks are given a unique characteristic - they only seem to know one word, which comes out as a satisfied hiss: "SHHHHHHHARK!" The special effects are achieved with what look like toys and vintage computer graphics, adding to the film's B-movie charm.
As chaos ensues, a trio of characters sets out on a hunting mission in a specially designed submersible named the Orca. The ensemble cast includes Takuya Fujimura from One Cut of the Dead, Daniel Aguilar from Shin Godzilla, Shôichirô Akaboshi, Masaki Naito, Koichi Makigami, Kiyobumi Kaneko, and Mio Takaki.
The town's response includes bringing in a marine biologist, Mayumi Kose, who tries to understand the attacks and the ancient nature of the sharks. Other characters include a police chief determined to warn the public, a mayor who is often out of his depth, and a quirky warrior-like figure who can physically confront the sharks.
The film also incorporates contemporary social commentary on how people document these attacks on their phones, sometimes filming even while being attacked, adding a mix of humor and poignancy to the story. Despite rising shark attacks, town officials like Kanichi Mangan, a social media influencer and local politician, persist in urging tourists to visit the area, highlighting the tension between economic interests and public safety.
The movie, which will be available in more theaters on July 11, also includes social media clips, including promo videos by the mayor. It will be available on cable VOD and digital HD on the same day. The editing aims for yuks, ensuring a humorous and entertaining experience for viewers.
As the mystery of the shark's identity unfolds, the town of Atsumi grapples with the bizarre menace in a way that embraces ridiculousness rather than strict realism. *Hot Spring Shark Attack* offers a wild and entertaining spectacle, making the shark presence more of a comedic disaster than a serious one.
- Reviews for the science-fiction comedy film, Hot Spring Shark Attack, have been featured on both Io9 and Gizmodo, praising its unique blend of futuristic technology, hilarious storytelling, and the unusual premise of ancient sharks spawning hot springs.
- In the entertainment realm, discussions around the film's debut have mentioned the movie's nod to contemporary culture, such as the prevalence of mobile recording devices and social media, with characters capturing the shark attacks on their phones, an element reminiscent of movies-and-tv trends.
- Critics have drawn comparisons between the specialist submersible named the Orca in Hot Spring Shark Attack and the ensemble cast of actors, including Takuya Fujimura, Daniel Aguilar, Shôichirô Akaboshi, and Mio Takaki, all of whom bring a dynamic energy to the film's futuristic portrayal of technology and entertainment.
