Piranha (1978)

Piranha (R) - Review

"Swarm Welcome"

Hailed by Steven Spielberg as the best of the Jaws knock-offs, Piranha is directed by Joe Dante (future filmmaker of Gremlins for that same Spielberg, he must have been impressed) with good effects by young future gore master Rob Bottin.  The story isn't really trying to be original: killer fish, intrepid heroes who are ignored by the authorities, kids at swimming camp, a beach BBQ by the river, yadda yadda roll fish.  It's the little touches that separate the Piranha from the shark: a bizarre Vietnam military subplot, the insurance investigator as main heroine with an odd characterization, a leisurely slow float on a lograft in a race to prevent the nasty little fishies from eating the little kiddies, an entertaining breakout from a jail cell.  Dante's career was made and a new toothy franchise was born, complete with cliffhanger ending (all thanks of course to Roger Corman).

6 Innertube butt bites out of 10 (GOOD)