WFG RATING: B+

Well Go USA presents a Bronte Pictures in association with Pictures in Paradise. Written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner. Produced by Chris Brown and Blake Northfield. Cinematography by Mark Wareham. Edited by Kiah Roache-Turner and Regg Skwarko. 

Stars Mark Coles Smith, Joel Nankervis, Lee Tiger Halley, San Parsonson, Max Johnson, Tristan McKinnon, and Sam Delich. 

This shark movie brings something fresh and exciting with a WWII setting in Kiah Roache-Turner’s latest film!

As World War II is heating up, a band of Australian soldiers have entered boot camp and are enduring the harsh training involved. The hopes of the new platoon working together as a unit tends to break now and again when the brutish Des has a tendency to prove himself as the big man in the troop. That is, until he picks on the seemingly shy Leo, who actually proves himself to be a better man in combat, impressing both the troops and his commanding officer.

When boot camp is finished, the troops are sent out immediately to sea. However, an ambush leads to their ship being attacked and seeking a way out, the young squadron find a raft and hop aboard as the ship sinks. Stranded in the middle of the ocean with nowhere to go, they are about to meet their greatest enemy yet: a great white shark! 

Wyrmwood helmer Kiah Roache-Turner does something very ingenious here. Not only does he take one of the most famous creature genres today and puts a fresh idea behind it. What many will be shocked to learn is that this film is loosely based on true events that happened during WWII, especially the famous USS Independence attack in 1945. There have been reported casualties from shark attacks after the torpedoed attack from the Japanese and what Roache-Turner did was shift the action to an young Australian platoon fighting for survival. 

The actors here are great as their characters not only contend with having to reel from the attack that sank their ship and the great white shark that surrounds them, but slowly there is dissension among them.  Mark Coles-Smith is great as Leo, who in the boot camp scene comes off as somewhat shy but proves his mettle against the more brutish Des, excellently played by Sam Delich. Joel Nankervis’ Will also brings an element of emotion to the battle they must endure both within their ranks and in the ocean.

The shark attacks are no holds barred so expect plenty of blood and gore in it. But what I find interesting is that the title isn’t only subject to the great white shark. It can be said to be a double meaning as over the course of the film, there are characters who are willing to go into beast mode themselves to not just find a way around the shark, but even sacrifice their fellow man for the sake of survival. 

Beast of War is definitely a film shark movie fans should check out as it brings a fresh and exciting idea in terms of setting while keeping the genre trope intact. 

The film will be released in select theaters and on Digital on October 10.