Mako: Jaws of Death

This cult horror flick has a memorable central character and some creepy shark-attack scenes, but its porno film-level production values and weak (I'm being kind) acting really bring it down. Better script than direction. Not without interest for 1970s drive-in movie fans, but the VHS copy I saw begged to be remastered and reissued. (Apparently Richard Jaeckel plays the lead, but the film was so dark I couldn't tell you for sure if it was him.) Would make a good double bill with Ben/Willard. 5/10.

Sonny Stein, shark conservationist and reclusive oddball is seduced by the wife of a wealthy entrepreneur and tricked into giving up his finned friends for scientific research and sideshow entertainment. But when Sonny discovers the ruse, he uses his mystical ability to command his sharks to hunt and kill those responsible.

Richard Jaeckel was always an engaging actor to watch over many decades of distinguished film service, and despite his simpleton turn here, there's still a hint of the professionalism in his thespian skills, that will endear his character and have you rooting for the shark guy. Throughout the movie, Jaeckel's rather dim alter ego descends into paranoia and eventual insanity, culminating in a frenzied rampage led by his number one Tiger shark who he commands with a telepathic dominion. In flashback we see that his supernatural power is the result of an ill-fated trek in the tributaries of South East Asia, many years earlier, where he survived in shark infested waters, and was bestowed an ancient medallion by a local Shaman.

Being low budget, "The Jaws of Death" can't afford to rely on expensive special effects or the bells and whistles usually associated with shark attack pictures. Stunt men interact with real sharks, offering a raw, realistic view of the relationship between marine life and humans. Despite the daring sequences, it's an unappealing contrivance in which the two species look anything but comfortable in each other's presence, and disappointingly, the sharks look decidedly harassed and exploited, which doesn't convey the mutual respect Sonny is supposed to enjoy with his much maligned 'friends'.

As much a character examination as it is a B-grade action-thriller, there's enough in Jaeckel's offbeat portrayal to warrant interest, and some familiar faces in the wings (Harold Sakata, John Davis Chandler, Luke Halpin) to provide character contrast. Worth a look if you find a reasonable DVD transfer that hasn't been re-produced from scratchy VHS source material.

This film proudly opens with the following announcement: "The producers wish to express their sincerest gratitude to the members of the underwater crew who risked their lives to film the shark sequences without the benefit of cages or other protective devices". Hell yeah they should be grateful! Especially because, at that point, the cameramen probably didn't yet know anything about how tepid the story lines and how ridiculous the plot of "Mako: The Jaws of Death" actually were! I'm secretly convinced that these people severely regretted the life-endangering efforts they made once they got to see the finished product. "We risked our lives for this piece of crap?!?" And they would be right, too. Anyways, let's start with a bit of good news first! Despite the title and the big virulent white teeth parading the VHS-cover, this is NOT a rip-off of Jaws at all. Writer/director William Grefé only eagerly cashed in on the popularity of sharks in horror movies, but he was ambitious enough to come up with an entirely original and personal story-idea, albeit an incredibly silly one. Sonny Stein has a great understanding with sharks and refers to them as his friends. That is to say, he feeds the sharks and protects them against greedy fishermen, and in exchange they don't eat him when he goes for a swim. The kind of relationship Willard had with rats. Through a flashback, Stein explains to a random striptease dancer how an old & anonymous shaman handed him a peculiar amulet, and since then the sharks obey him. Stein is also extremely naive and dumb, as he 'donates' sharks, supposedly for good causes, to a science lab and to a sleazy (and mega-fat) bar-owner for an original entertainment act. When both place abuse the animals, Stein immediately avenges his friends. The script is too implausible & idiotic for words, but everyone involved takes it very serious, like it's the most essentially moralistic nature-versus-humans movie ever made. However, there are one or two good sequences to enjoy, notably the one where the shark-whispering hero kills a poacher and drags him behind his own boat; his mouth attached to a hook. The budget was generally very low, so don't expect too many special effects. Heck, whenever there's supposed to a shark attack going on, you just see a couple of fuzzy images and water mixed with red paint to raise the impression the sea turned red with blood. The acting performances are downright atrocious to observe. Especially Richard Jaeckel ("The Amazing Mr. No Legs", "Grizzly") really sucks in the lead. Maybe he subconsciously realized that the screenplay was a bunch of nonsense and his acting talent therefore went on a strike. His character also hasn't got a sense of humor, which is a huge mistake according to me. He doesn't use his shark-friends to score with the ladies, doesn't say anything witty when he hunts down shark killers and he doesn't even make a joke about how astonishingly fat and tasteless the owner of the striptease bar is! He's just a silent, arrogant and asocial loner who cares too much about sharks. How sad. I'm generously rewarding this film with a four out of ten rating because I appreciate the effort and because I like sharks but, in all honesty, "Mako: The Jaws of Death" isn't worth any rating higher than two.

Sonny loves sharks.He feeds them and swims with them.But when a group of fisherman set out to exploit and kill the sharks Sonny and his carnivorous friends take bloody revenge."Mako:Jaws of Death" by William Grefe is an average animal attack film with unspectacular death scenes.The performances are weak and there is no suspense.The cinematography is murky and there is very little blood.However some underwater shots look impressive.I have seen "Whiskey Mountain" by William Grefe and I must say that I enjoyed that movie more than "Mako:The Jaws of Death".Still if you are into low-budget 70's horror "Mako" is definitely one to check out.6 sharks out of 10.

Greetings and salutations, and welcome to my review of 1976s Mako: Jaws Of Death

The story gets a 1 out of 2: The trouble with this film is its ridiculous story. The writers barely bother hiding its stupidity. It wouldn't have been so harmful if they'd played it for laughs. I find it strange they ramble through this Shark Whisperer tale as though talking to sharks was typical. I know we all talk to our pets, but this guy believes the sharks talk back to him.

However, I have to say I fully embrace the idea of an eco-warrior trying to save the little fishes. Sharks have been much-aligned for years. It's about time they bit back because of their critical press. It's just a shame the writers decided to handle it in such a manner.

The Direction and Pace receive a 2.25 out of 4: What deems this an okay film is the direction. Most of the sharks are real. However, I'm hoping the multiple deceased ones in the movie were merely rubber props. Otherwise, that makes the moral of the tale hypocritical.

Where the direction falls flat is in the creation of atmosphere. It would've been enjoyable to feel anxious whenever the sharks attacked. But the director films it in a matter-of-fact fashion, which adds a smidgeon of boredom to the scenes. This film needed more tension and scares, which would have made it more powerful. Which, of course, talks of pacing. The movie has a steady pace, and it doesn't work. This style of story cries out for a roller-coaster style tempo. Because of the steadiness, I found my attention faltering.

The Acting gets a 1 out of 2: There are a few known faces in this film, and none of them helped make this film more entertaining. Even the Eco-Hero played by Richard Jaeckel felt out of place with his odd and peculiar character. However, I do have to give him respect because he nailed ominous. This guy can stand and stare, and you know you'll have to fight like hell to survive.

And, my Enjoyment level hits a 0.75 out of 2: Unfortunately, the ridiculous story and principal character hindered Mako too much. Couple that with the monotonous pacing and my failing attention, and you develop a sub-par movie.

The total scores give Mako a 5 out of 10: This is one of those weekend afternoon movies you choose to watch if there's no match. I wouldn't recommend you rush to watch it. In fact, I wouldn't recommend viewing this movie until you've exhausted all your other shark films.

Pull on your speedo's and breaststroke over to my Killer Thriller Chillers and Monstrous lists to see where these misrepresented man-eaters and their bestie drowned in my rankings.

Take care and stay well.