Piranha Summary
Director: Scott P. Levy
Genres: Horror
Rating:
Joe_Dante's original Piranha (1979) was a small gem, a clever parody of and homage to the numerous eco-kill pictures which followed in the wake of Jaws (1975). It featured a witty script by then little-known screenwriter John_Sayles (Lone_Star) and a great cast including Paul_Bartel, Dick_Miller, and Barbara_Steele. This made-for-cable remake, however, is an abomination. It was as if director Scott_Levy set out to make the original, scene-by-scene, only without benefit of a good cast and script. Screenwriter Alex_Simon seems to have intentionally removed any trace of the sly, knowing humor of Sayles in favor of maudlin stock dialogue mouthed by mannequin-like drones. William_Katt delivers a tedious performance which makes Bradford_Dillman's work in the first Piranha look like art, and the sluggish Alexandra_Paul's female lead is only a shadow of Heather_Menzies, which is pretty difficult to imagine. The makeup by John_Carl_Buechler can't hold a candle to the craftsmanship of Rob_Bottin's work in the original, either. About the only thing this disaster has going for it is a fairly interesting song called "Killer Mutant Piranhas," performed over the closing credits by Uncle Dog Food. The rest of the film is like watching a dull summary of the original rather than a real movie. Robert Firsching, Rovi
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