Chum: A Shark Movie with a Side of AI Chaos
The world of shark movies is a treacherous one, filled with the promise of thrilling escapades and the constant threat of being devoured by a bloodthirsty predator. But in the case of 'Chum', the promise of excitement is quickly overshadowed by a chaotic blend of poor character development, awkward dialogue, and questionable AI-driven special effects. This movie is a prime example of how a shark-themed adventure can go from thrilling to utterly ridiculous in a matter of seconds.
In my opinion, the premise of 'Chum' is intriguing: a group of friends and a newlywed couple on a Mediterranean yacht, caught between a shark and a psychopathic killer. The idea of a sun-drenched escape turning into a fight for survival has the makings of a classic. However, the execution leaves much to be desired. The characters, for instance, are a motley crew of insufferable individuals, with the newlyweds seemingly hating each other and their 'friends' showing little concern for their well-being. Personally, I found myself rooting for the shark, not because I wanted to see people get eaten, but because the characters were so infuriatingly unlikeable.
The use of real shark footage is an interesting choice, but it's not enough to save the movie from its own absurdity. The filmmakers attempt to blend the real footage with AI-driven special effects, but the result is a jarring mix of the natural and the artificial. The shark's attacks, in particular, are a sight to behold, with a strange floaty quality to the victims and limbs being put into the shark's mouth in a way that feels more like a video game than a movie. What many people don't realize is that this is a movie that tries to take itself seriously, but its attempts at realism are undermined by its own absurdity.
The editing choices in 'Chum' are also curious. A fairly normal moment is suddenly shown in slow motion, stretching for time and revealing things that we really don't need to see. The music, too, goes insane anytime someone enters the water, almost immediately followed by a shark cutaway. This creates plenty of unintentionally funny moments, and I found myself chuckling a lot in the third act. It's a testament to the movie's absurdity that even the most ridiculous moments can be entertaining.
In my view, 'Chum' is a movie that tries to be a thrilling shark adventure but ends up being a mess of poor character development, awkward dialogue, and questionable special effects. It's a movie that feels like it's trying to be a B-movie, but falls short of even that. If you're looking for a shark movie that takes itself seriously, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a movie to make fun of with friends, then 'Chum' might just be the ticket. But for anyone looking for a truly engaging and well-crafted shark adventure, this movie is a definite miss.
