The Shark Movie That Sank Before It Swam: A Commentary on 'Chum' and the State of Cinematic Thrills
There’s something inherently thrilling about a shark movie. Maybe it’s the primal fear of the unknown depths, or the sheer audacity of pitting humans against nature’s most perfect predator. But let’s be honest—the genre is a minefield. For every Jaws, there are dozens of B-movies that miss the mark so spectacularly, they become unintentionally hilarious. Enter Chum, a film that promised Mediterranean sun and shark-infested waters but delivered something far more bizarre: a masterclass in how not to make a thriller.
The Plot: A Recipe for Disaster
On paper, Chum sounds like a decent premise. A newlywed couple, a yacht, a shark, and a psychopathic killer—what’s not to love? But here’s where it gets interesting. The film tries to juggle too many elements, and the result is a mess of incoherent storytelling. Personally, I think the biggest mistake was the attempt to blend shark attacks with a revenge narrative. It’s like trying to mix oil and water—they just don’t belong together.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how the film leans into its flaws. The newlyweds hate each other, the friends are insufferable, and the killer’s motivations feel half-baked. It’s as if the filmmakers wanted to create tension but forgot that tension requires likable characters or, at the very least, characters you care about. Instead, I found myself rooting for the shark—a detail that I find especially interesting, as it’s rarely the intended reaction in a thriller.
The AI Factor: When Technology Becomes the Villain
One thing that immediately stands out is the film’s use of AI in post-production. Now, I’m all for innovation, but Chum takes it to an absurd level. The shark attacks look like something out of a low-budget video game, with victims floating awkwardly into the shark’s mouth. It’s not just bad—it’s distractingly bad. What this really suggests is that technology, when misused, can undermine even the most high-concept ideas.
From my perspective, the reliance on AI highlights a broader issue in modern filmmaking: the temptation to cut corners. Real shark footage is spliced with CGI so poorly that it’s impossible to take seriously. If you take a step back and think about it, this is a missed opportunity. With the right execution, blending real footage with VFX could have been groundbreaking. Instead, it feels like a lazy shortcut.
The Characters: Why I Rooted for the Shark
Let’s talk about the characters, or rather, the lack thereof. Alice Eve is the only actor who seems to be trying, but even she can’t salvage the script. The dialogue is stale, the dynamics are forced, and the newlyweds’ relationship is so toxic, it’s hard to believe they made it down the aisle. What many people don’t realize is that a thriller lives or dies by its characters. If the audience doesn’t care about who’s in danger, the stakes feel nonexistent.
In my opinion, the film’s biggest failure is its inability to make the audience invest emotionally. The friends are forgettable, the killer is one-dimensional, and the shark—well, the shark is the only one with any personality. This raises a deeper question: Why bother with human drama if you’re not going to do it justice?
The Unintentional Comedy: When Bad Becomes Good
Here’s where Chum gets weirdly entertaining. The film is so bad, it’s good. The slow-motion shots, the over-the-top music, the absurd editing choices—it all adds up to a kind of chaotic charm. I found myself laughing more than gasping, especially in the third act. Melodrama and terrible FX, it turns out, are a recipe for dumb fun.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how the film’s flaws become its saving grace. It’s not a good movie, but it’s a memorable one. Personally, I think this is where Chum inadvertently succeeds. It’s the kind of film you’d watch with friends, not for the thrills, but for the laughs.
The Broader Implications: What Chum Says About Modern Cinema
If you take a step back and think about it, Chum is more than just a bad shark movie. It’s a symptom of a larger trend in cinema—the rush to capitalize on genre tropes without investing in quality. From the AI-driven VFX to the rushed storytelling, it feels like the filmmakers were more interested in meeting a deadline than crafting something meaningful.
This raises a deeper question: Are we sacrificing artistry for efficiency? The use of AI in Chum is a cautionary tale about what happens when technology replaces creativity. In my opinion, this is a slippery slope. While AI has its place in filmmaking, it should enhance the story, not become the story.
Final Thoughts: A Missed Opportunity or a Cult Classic?
Chum is a film that tries to do too much and ends up doing very little. It’s not a good thriller, but it’s not entirely forgettable either. Personally, I think its legacy will be as a cult classic—a movie so bad, it’s entertaining in its own right.
What this really suggests is that even the worst films can find an audience. Whether you’re a fan of shark movies or just enjoy a good laugh, Chum delivers—just not in the way it intended. If you’re looking for a competent thriller, look elsewhere. But if you’re in the mood for a cinematic trainwreck, Chum might just be your next favorite film.
