Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Blu-ray Movie Review

Another one? Oh hell no!

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 28, 2017

Same shark, different day.

The Sharknado movies are like...like nothing the movies have seen before. A franchise that won't die is nothing new -- look at all the movies in the Sniper or American Pie series' for example -- but ones that started out "bad" and that has become progressively "worse" is another matter entirely. The Asylum is the notorious studio that has made a name for itself by crafting on-the-cheap junk that, much of the time, are direct rip-offs of bigger and better and more recognizable films (one of its latest being Cargo, a take on Cars) that the studio hopes will draw in the unsuspecting or confused viewer or attract bad movie aficionados. Sharknado began innocently enough, seemingly just another in the very long line of modern schlock that mixed together two or more elements seemingly drawn from a hat, but this one stuck. Featuring the talents of Ian Ziering and Tara Reid and gradually attracting a who's who of popular culture figures along the way, the films have become an annual staple, a boon for the studio (and just about the only thing The Asylum releases to Blu-ray anymore), and a cultural phenomenon. Why? Who knows. The movies are growing increasingly convoluted and absurd, even as they follow a fairly linear arc from first to fifth, and they're ultimately little more than rehashes with new faces and locations standing in the middle of the same lousy visual effects and storylines. But they make good party movies, if nothing else, the kind that the studio at least crafts with a giant wink-and-a-nod on full display in every scene, acknowledging the absurdity but gleefully milking it for pretty much all it's worth.

Fin (Ziering), his cyborg wife April (Reid), the couple's son Gil (Billy Barratt), and Nova (Cassandra Scerbo) are in London following the devastation across the United States. As tends to happen, a Sharknado breaks out in the city and Gil is swept away. Fortunately, he was recently given a special helmet that not only protects him from a Sharknado, but also allows his parents to track is whereabouts. The search leads the trio across the globe as they find themselves pulled into a mysterious vortex that drops them into different locations around the world -- Sydney, Rio, Rome -- as they battle Sharknados at every stop, all the while saving the Queen of England and receiving a new weapon from the Pope (who is played by Fabio).

Speaking of Fabio, there are no shortage of familiar faces in cameo roles sprinkled throughout the film. That's become a franchise staple, and this film attracts an interesting spectrum of individuals, including the aforementioned Fabio, Tony Hawk, Nichelle Nichols, Gerlado Rivera, and Bret Michaels to name a few. But, really, the new faces are all that really feels fresh about Sharknado 5. Sure the crude plot mechanics and A-B-C narrative elements make the movie unique, but it ultimately boils down to the same characters doing the same things, and the movie does grow a bit repetitious and, dare say, dull. The novelty is wearing a bit thin, the joke dragging on too long. The viability, at least for this reviewer, seems to be on the decline, the movies still made for marketing purposes more so than sheer entertainment. But then again, that's been The Asylum's mantra, and the studio probably isn't about to let go of its goldmine quite so easily. This film's finale certainly guarantees a sequel, and it's the best ending yet. Sure it rips off another famous movie, but the surprise twist and guest star nearly erases the doldrums from the first 85 minutes and actually builds anticipation for the next, and possibly last, installment.

But leading up to that ending, the movie just can't escape its tired execution. In the first five minutes alone, the film works in a Mission: Impossible reference, some James Bond fun, and builds an extended sequence straight out of the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark, complete with a rolling shark's head chasing after the heroes. Movie fans will delight in picking out all of the references (just as much fun as anticipating the next cameo) but, until that end, sour on most everything else. Action is repetitive and special effects continue to flounder, though one could argue that the low-rent look and feel is part of the series' charm. But outside of a belly full of drinks and some friends, one would be hard-pressed to marathon these movies or even settling in for 90 minutes of more with this latest sequel; it's just growing too long in the (shark) tooth to get excited for more slow pacing, absurdly wrenched-in plot devices, and repetitious action. Hardcore fans will probably be thrilled, but casuals might find the movie to be more of a chore than a joy.

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Everything else about Sharknado 5: Global Swarming falls pretty much in-line with expectations, and the Blu-ray video quality is no different. The digitally shot movie presents about as well as can be expected. It's very crisp and highly detailed, marred by a fairly regular layer of noise and brought down by the hazy, low-res quality of the visual effects, but close-up shots do reveal wonderful textural capabilities throughout. Facial definition is fantastic at the most intimate level, and the cheap build quality of various props -- like Gil's helmet -- is easy to spot. Clarity of environments and backgrounds impresses as well. Colors are full and pleasing with punchy primaries and well saturated supports. Skies tend to be blown out but core colors, as well as black levels and skin tones, are fine.

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack carries the movie's needs commendably well. This is an active track, offering plenty of surround activity and full-on stage assault, particularly as strong gusts of Sharknado winds blow about. Clarity is certainly nothing special, and it's often more a wall of sound rather than a nuanced presentation, but the raw effect does fit the movie well enough. Surrounds are never shy about carrying music or ambient support, either. The former is consistently aggressive and implements enough bass to please, too. Environmental sounds help fill in some necessary background information with good placement and clarity. Dialogue is clear and detailed with firm front-center placement and prioritization even through the most intensive action sequences.

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming contains a commentary and a few additional extras. No DVD or digital versions are included.

• The Making of Sharknado 5: Global Swarming (1080p, 8:48): A basic film and franchise overview with cast and crew.
• Anatomy of a Sharknado Ending (1080p, 2:37): A quick recap of the movie's ending.
• Deleted & Alternate Scenes (1080p, 10:48): Various additional scenes.
• VFX Before & After (1080p, 2:29): A quick montage of pre- and post-VFX shots juxtaposed against one another.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 1:11): As in The Obligatory.
• Audio Commentary: Director Anthony C. Ferrante, Screenwriter Scotty Mullen, and Visual Effects Supervisor Glenn Campbell share their thoughts on the film.

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sequel? Oh yeah! Sharknado 5: Global Swarming leaves no guessing involved, ending on the promise of yet another entry that's certainly going to follow suit, play to the franchise's "strengths," and entertain the morbidly curious and the ever-growing franchise fan base alike. As for the fifth film, it's nothing particularly special, following more or less the same pattern of dropping new faces and backgrounds into the same core movies. The film offers a few new concepts but don't expect any radical new direction; The Asylum rightly plays it safe and will undoubtedly continue to do so until the cost-revenue graph tells them it's time to wrap and move on to the next wish-and-a-prayer project. The Blu-ray, released through Cinedigm, offers stable video and audio that are typical of the franchise. A handful of extras are included. Obviously recommended to series fans, but even as dumb and interchangeable as the movies may be, newcomers are encouraged to start back at the beginning. All five films are available on Blu-ray.