by Henry Pham
Jonathan Zuck’s Chum focuses on a newlywed couple, Tina and Tom, who are joining friends on a Mediterranean yacht excursion. However, their adventure and dream destination wedding in Malta explodes into chaos when a bloodthirsty shark attacks them, and a sinister fisherman with a hidden agenda turns the wedding group’s celebration into a deadly trap. Now forced between the open water and a relentless human predator, the wedding group must fight for survival as secrets surface and loyalties shatter. As the newlyweds and their friends are pushed to their limits, they are forced to confront the cracks in their relationship to determine who lives, who dies, and who stays married.
The film features a small cast of six main actors: Alice Eve (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Tina, Eric Michael Cole as Tom, Elle Haymond as Sadie, Sarah Siadat as Rachinda, Johnny Gaffney as Rick, and Lisa Yaro as Britney. While the cast is competent, most performances lack engagement. However, Alice Eve stands out for her convincing portrayal of determination and desperation. Jim Flock plays Roy, a menacing fisherman who has spent five years seeking revenge on the shark that killed his wife. Roy’s obsession with capturing the shark drives him to use various forms of bait, including animals and, eventually, humans and tourists, but without success. The character draws clear inspiration from Quint, the shark hunter in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws.
While the film contains some suspenseful moments, its tone often shifts toward the absurd, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The cinematography by Mac Fisken, particularly the scenes shot in Malta, stands out. The shark is clearly computer-generated, and the CGI is inconsistent, giving the film a dated appearance. The plot is heavily influenced by Jaws and Piranha 3D, with direction by Jonathan Zuck and a script co-written with Joe Leone. At 87 minutes, the film is brief, and additional shark action sequences could have enhanced audience engagement. The filmmakers reportedly shortened the story to avoid excessive violence and an overly complicated third act.
Newlyweds and hot girls are on the menu in Jonathan Zuck’s Chum, but it’s a disastrous wave in this short killer shark movie. What I like about this film is the elements borrowed from these two aforementioned films, as well as Alice Eve’s onscreen presence. She is an actress who can do no wrong. Normally, we keep getting killer shark movies that are good, bad, or average, but Steven Spielberg’s Jaws remains a classic to everyone, including critics, audiences, and fans. It is an interesting killer shark movie, but it wasn’t as great due to its short runtime, pacing issues, and decent cast. Be warned, there’s blood and gore shown in the film. So, if I recommend taking your children to the other room when you decide to watch this.
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