I knew I’d be dredging the bottom at some point in this Toothy Tuesday series, and “Red Water” (2003) appeared to be one of the worst of the shark-horror subgenre. It’s a made-for-TV film that aired on TBS. But if you go in with low standards, you might end up having fun.
More thrills than scares
If you come for scares, it should be noted that “Red Water” never develops a true a sense of fear, even with the requisite offing of a young swimmer and then an old fisherman to start the proceedings.
Working with mediocre CGI and practical shark effects, director Charles Robert Carner goes for fun thrills. He admirably stops short of the outright camp TV shark films would later become known for in the “Sharknado” era.
“Red Water” (2003)
Director: Charles Robert Carner
Writers: J.D. Feigelson, Chris Mack
Stars: Lou Diamond Phillips, Kristy Swanson, Coolio
On Tuesdays this summer, Reviews from My Couch is highlighting classic (and not so classic) shark horror films through the years.
Writers J.D. Feigelson and Chris Mack wisely craft a thriller, with the freshwater bull shark serving as a story spice as it roams the Louisiana river. The action sequences are often less than great, but the plot has plausible stakes.
Exes John (Lou Diamond Phillips) and Kelli (Kristy Swanson) are investigating a stalled oil drill. On a boat nearby, drug runners – including Ice (Coolio), whose gun-happiness triggers the conflict — hope to recover a case of money they previously left on the river bottom.
Some parts of the production are respectable for the low budget, including fiery explosions that look cool against the nighttime bayou backdrop. The river setting was rare for a shark flick at the time, and Carner captures the sweaty, grimy, buggy vibe.
Not bad for a TV shark movie
Later, “Shark Night” would do a river-based shark story slightly better by infusing horror and gore, along with more titillation and cheesy humor.
“Red Water’s” plot is smarter than that later film, but it has plenty of individual dumb moments. The filmmakers are probably aware of such silliness, but they don’t lean into it. Yes, we get shark kills and single-take stunts worthy of chuckles, and some bad acting as you dive deeper into the cast list.
But at the same time, I liked John, Kelli and the other good guys. A salt-of-the-earth Phillips and a rather morose Swanson are worthy B-movie leads, even if they are playing out a low-grade copy of the “Abyss” thing where two people have inexplicably split up and will inevitably get back together.
The characters and the blue-collar Louisiana river setting make more of an impression than the bull shark. Until the final showdown. Horror fans are thrown a bone with an industrious shark kill that “Deep Blue Sea 3” might’ve been inspired by – and encouraged to top.
As closing zingers go, Phillips’ “Open wide, you ugly bastard!” is a mere (and intentional) echo of Roy Scheider’s “Smile, you son of a bitch!” But “Red Water” knows it doesn’t have the budget to compete with “Jaws”; it’s only trying to be the best shark film to go straight to TV. By that metric, it rises to the top.