‘Beast of War’ Review – Practical Effects Impress in Slick Shark War Thriller

Fantastic Fest 2025 Review: BEAST OF WAR is a Dread-Packed WWII Shark Attack Flick

The basis for any memorable shark movie isn't rocket science. Does your bloodthirsty animal look the part (hopefully practical)? Do your attack scenes make a messy splash? Can you believe the scenario unlucky victims find themselves in barring a wibbly-wobbly yet acceptable suspension of belief? Kiah Roache-Turner's Australian "Fin Flick" Beast of War checks all three boxes, set against the backdrop of 1942's World War II tensions. It's a simple…

‘Beast Of War’ (Fantastic Fest) Non-Spoiler Review – A Cheap But Charming Shark Survival Thriller

Y’know, that was the time I was most frightened, waitin’ for my turn. I’ll never put on a life jacket again. So, eleven hundred men went into the water, three hundred sixteen men come out, and the sharks took the rest, June the 29th, 1945. Quint (Robert Shaw), ‘Jaws’ (1975) Beast of War is essentially Quint’s monologue from Jaws turned into a feature-length film. Conceptually, it’s a great idea. However, the results are decidedly more mixed. Bea…

‘Beast of War’ Review – Practical Effects Impress in Slick Shark War Thriller

Steven Spielberg’s seminal shark horror classic Jaws turns 50 this year, and Beast of War, the latest by filmmaker Kiah Roache-Turner (Sting, Wyrmwood: Apocalypse), draws inspiration from the historical account that directly inspired Quint’s unforgettable monologue in Spielberg’s film. Roache-Turner, who writes and directs, gives his own spin with his 1942 Australian war movie, featuring stunning practical effects, including one menacing, hungry…