The Black Demon

Unlike what I expected from the trailer, this movie gives a different vibe from the 'Meg' series. Although you can tell that the animation quality doesn't quite match up to 'Meg,' I really like how this film combines the darkness and introspection of corrupt oil companies and well-paid officials. It shows that maintaining a facade of a glamorous life can turn people into environmental destroyers without a care, and they only realize their mistakes when they themselves are affected. This isn't just another commercial film focused solely on delivering thrills, like 'Meg.' There's a line in the movie that I strongly resonate with: even though we know our job duties may lead to wrongdoing, when the boss says, 'If you don't do it, someone else will,' many people, I believe, would end up like the male protagonist, sinking deeper into it.

Paul Sturges returns to a small town to check on an offshore oil rig while incorporating a family vacation. However, the areas economics have taken a turn and their tranquil retreat is hijacked by a colossal megalodon shark.

Beyond directors Adrian Grünberg captivating visuals, Boise Esquerra's screenplay delves into meaningful ecological and spiritual legends themes, making it more than just a creature feature. Although a little talkie and preachy it highlights the importance of preserving our environment and respecting the sacredness of nature. It's weaves these themes into its storyline, along with the importance of family.

It's a little too human-focused, but includes periodic scary vision interludes, along with the few and far between shark setups. Leonardo Heiblum and Jacobo Lieberman's score adds impact to the proceedings, the effects are good considering the budget, especially the rig itself.

Josh Lucas delivers a great performance, along with notable Fernanda Urrejola and Julio Cesar Cedillo. It's a pity that the film is unapologetically downbeat in its resolution. While the somber tone serves the narrative well, it might leave some viewers hoping for a more optimistic outcome.

Overall, Black Demon combines some interesting underwater visuals, and an eerie cautionary tale of manmade ecological disasters, reminding us of the importance of the ocean's preservation.

Some of you acting as if the Director kidnapped you, rinsed your savings account as a ticket fee, and Strapped you Clockwork Orange style to watch this 33,000 times on loop.

Ok list style, here we go.

1. The Kills: Pretty original, some offscreen. I mean how much excitement do you really expect from a 70 foot shark eating a person? Is it a Spielberg level event when you eat a single mini m&m? Grade B 2. The plot: It was alright. A small twist in it. I could see this having a different ending a few ways. Grade B 3. Acting: It was hit and miss. Possibly due to the writing. Don't even try to sell me that 50 shades would have been a better movie with Sir Anthony Hopkins in his Prime with Helen Mirin go cast. Actors can only do so much with the role. Grade C+ The wife, and Son are probably the most believable acting in this.

4. CGI SFX: B It was better than anything The Asylum ever did, but yes it's not the MEG and it's not Jaws and it doesn't have to be.

Over all grade with no Zach Galifianakis-Alan mathematical questions in a casino is a B + cause I like shake movies. To score an A though it's tough to come close to Jaws. Even Bruce the shark for all the issues looks like something you'd NEVER want to see in the open ocean.

Right, well of course I opted to sit down and watch the 2023 movie "The Black Demon", as I had the opportunity to do so. After all, I am a sucker for shark movies, despite the vast majority of shark movies being utter garbage. But I opted to give writers Carlos Cisco and Boise Esquerra's 2023 movie the benefit of the doubt.

And I mean, a shark movie with a megalodon, that has to be cool, right? Well, some movies with megalodons are, but just not this particular 2023 movie. Sure, I managed to sit through the entire movie, but I was not particularly entertained by the script and storyline that writers Carlos Cisco and Boise Esquerra had put together. It was just, hands down, a bit too silly and preachy.

I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie, aside from Josh Lucas, Jorge A. Jimenez, Héctor Jiménez and Julio Cesar Cedillo. The acting performances in the movie were actually fair enough, despite the fact that the actors and actresses had very little of anything proper to work with.

Visually then "The Black Demon" was adequate. The megalodon was nicely enough rendered by CGI, though it wasn't really as much on the screen as I would have liked it to be, much less actually expected it to be with "The Black Demon" being a shark movie.

There are far better shark movies out there, and "The Black Demon" came and went without leaving as much as a ripple on the waters in which it swam and ultimately sank. This is not a movie that I will recommend you to rush out and get to watch. Nor is it a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time.

My rating of director Adrian Grunberg's 2023 movie "The Black Demon" lands on three out of ten stars.

This is definitely a movie of all time. It was so good that I had to write this review as I'm watching the movie. I'm literally sitting at the theater right now. My favorite moment was when the antagonist said "it's sharkin' time", an iconic line that nods to the classic Swedish film the seventh seal. Seeing the movie made me wish that I was in the movie, so I could be eaten alive instead of sitting through this amazing movie. I came because the guardians of the galaxy screening was cancelled, but I stayed because my wallet guilt tripped me into sitting through this godly creation. I especially loved how this movie made everyone look stupid, Americans, Mexicans, and even shark, this movie made me hate ethnic groups from every end of the spectrum.