Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Sharknado Blu-ray Movie Review

It's really no different than any other Asylum/SyFy movie.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 26, 2013

Normally, Asylum movies feature quotes on the back of the box that are attributed to nobody, which common sense says that it was somebody at the studio who thought it up and scribbled it down for packaging fodder, not something sourced from a legitimate review. And who can really blame them for that practice? It's not as if these movies earn universal acclaim, and there's usually at least plausible legitimacy to whatever quote is thrown on the back. That's all changed with Sharknado. The packaging features real quotes from real people at real outside source websites, and they offer praise for the film. Is it representative of a step forward for the "Mockbuster" studio or a blip on the radar screen? After all, sparse praise in the way of "so bad it's good" is usually the best for which an Asylum film can hope, so anything more feels like gravy or, maybe better, a change in the way the studio does business. And it's easy to see the appeal of Sharknado and why the movie generated some legitimate buzz; it's become so instantly ingrained into the pop culture scene that T-Shirts have been spotted for sale at Kohls and a recent Sports Illustrated cover used "Sharknado" in reference to the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Pirates self-proclaimed "Shark Tank" bullpen. Certainly, the movie has gained significant traction, above and beyond the usual Asylum nonsense, and largely in part due to its name. Yet no matter how cleverly ridiculous the concept may be, the execution falls just on the plus side of "stinks" and audiences are treated to another largely generic SyFy-style film that cannot find its footing beyond an admittedly unforgettable -- in a ridiculous, eye rolling sort of way -- title.

Awesome special effects.

The West Coast is bracing for a storm more powerful than anything it's experienced before. "Hurricane David" is quickly approaching and is set to make waves when it hits land. Unfortunately, heavy rain, powerful winds, and some property damage are about to become the least of the citizens' concerns. Barkeep Nova (Cassie Scerbo), her boss Fin (Ian Ziering), and perpetual drunken customer George (John Heard) find themselves caught in a freak act of nature when the hurricane picks up sharks and throws them on down into the public. Along with Fin's friend Baz (Jaason Simmons), the group travels to Fin's former home in hopes of saving his ex-wife April (Tara Reid) and son Matt (Chuck Hittinger) before setting out to put an end to the menacing "Sharknado" threat.

But...but...but...the title is so cool! How could anyone not love a movie about sharks swirling through the sky, picked up by a hurricane, tossed around land, and devouring anyone in their paths? Yeah, it's a nifty idea and an incredibly catchy and clever title. It should be a really great bad movie, an unforgettable campy experience, but this is The Asylum, and, to be honest, not an outfit with a reputation for producing quality movies. Sharknado doesn't need "quality," though. It just needs to capitalize on the title and deliver the sort of mindless mayhem that title promises. Admittedly, it does deliver, on occasion. There's a great moment at the end of the film that should go down in cinema lore as one of the silliest, nastiest finales to a movie, the sort of thing that's re-watched time and again and talked about for years to come by bad movie enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the moment is completely destroyed by awful, awful special effects. Maybe there's a charm to the ridiculous visuals, and much of the "money" shot aftermath appears to be practical, but a little more effort might have gone a long way in making the movie a bit better, not just here but elsewhere, too. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience leading up to the end isn't much of anything to write home about, either, and chances are no budget could save the rest of the movie with a choice final shot of even the best quality.

Like most other Asylum/SyFy movies, Sharknado features a cast of recognizable names that aren't quite so relevant on the entertainment scene as they once were. Former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Ian Ziering leads the way, turning in an admittedly fair performance of a terribly flat character whose only qualities really don't make much of a difference at the end of the day. Ditto co-stars like Tara Reid, John Heard, and Jaason Simmons, all of whom seem happy to simply get through the movie, not out of laziness but out of practicality; there's just not much for them to do, no room or even reason for them to grow. The cast is simply a support piece to the larger idea, and all of the little quirks and stabs at development only seem to get in the way of the action. Sadly, the action itself feels rather repetitive. Much of the movie is merely a revolving door and growing number of survivors traveling to the next location and trying to sort out what they're going to do, why they're going to do it, and why everything around them is happening. In short, too much cast, too little Sharknado.

Sharknado Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sharknado twists onto Blu-ray with a largely typical Asylum transfer. The 1.78:1 image enjoys a fairly flat and somewhat glossy but otherwise well defined texture, showing with commanding accuracy the finest, natural details of clothes, faces, building façades, and the like. Image stability is generally without fault; only visual effects shots tend to go jerky and soft. Colors are bold and vibrant when applicable and a bit more cold and dreary when the drenching rains and overcast skies dominate the picture. It never goes too terribly dark, and even in the less-than-ideal lighting conditions the palette remains accurate and satisfying. Blocky backgrounds often accompany visual effects, and moderate-to-heavy banding also appears more regularly than most would like. Overall, however, this is a satisfying image with faults that hinder, but don't ruin, a largely positive transfer.

Sharknado Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sharknado bites into Blu-ray with a rather good, though overcooked at reference level, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack; make sure to turn it down a few notches before starting playback. Once the appropriate volume has been found, the track reveals a natural balance across the board. Nice ambient seaside effects roll through the stage with natural precision before the mayhem begins. Bland Rock music saturates the stage well enough, enjoying solid clarity and spacing. The track shines when it's thoroughly chaotic. A ferris wheel rumbles down the boardwalk to excellent effect. Drenching rain saturates the stage. Booming thunder and rushing water punish the listening area. Often, two or three heavy effects mesh together to create a balanced whirlwind of chaos that helps define the movie's most critical moments. Rounded into form by even, center-balanced dialogue, Sharknado makes for a mostly pleasing listen on Blu-ray.

Sharknado Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sharknado features the typical Asylum extras (making of, gag reel) and adds an audio commentary track.

• Audio Commentary: Director Anthony C. Ferrante and Actors Jaason Simmons, Aubrey Peeples, and Cassie Scerbo offer a fairly light commentary track with plenty of banter and laughter. The cover the film's public interest level, shooting locales and specifics, plot details, and more. There's not much value added here, but hardcore Sharknado fans will probably find enough to make it worth a listen.
• "Making Of" Featurette (HD, 10:43): Cast and crew discuss acting with visual effects, constructing shark special effects, and the technical specifics of the shoot. Audio often falls out of balance.
• Gag Reel (HD, 5:19).
• Trailers: Additional Asylum titles.
• DVD Copy: Exclusive to the Best Buy release.

Sharknado Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sharknado should be every bit the awesome camp its title suggests, but it's just another clone in the tradition of SyFy/Asylum nonsense, following the same formula of bad special effects, needless stabs at character development, and a general sense of low budget production values. It's a shame the filmmakers couldn't do more, but it's clear the end product is just a means to satisfy a title in the most cost-efficient way possible. The Asylum's Blu- ray release of Sharknado features quality video and audio. A few basic extras are included. Rent it if the curiosity is too much to overcome.