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Overall Rating : 3.5/10
Directed By : Jack Sholder
Colin Egglesfield (All My Children (TV) )
John Rhys-Davies (Lord Of The Rings Trilogy)
Mark Dexter (From Hell)
Supplied By : MTI Home Video
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Mar. 14, 2006
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| PLOT July of 1916 was a time of record heat, a polio epidemic, and a World War in Europe. But beachgoers in New Jersey are threatened by a even greater terror: a shark that has suddenly developed a taste for human flesh. Starting July 1st and lasting over a period of 12 days, the unidentified shark kills four people and seriously injures a fifth before the attacks stop, and threatens New Jersey's thriving tourist industry. |
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| THE REVIEW 12 DAYS OF TERROR centers around a real-life story of a small town on the New Jersey shore in 1916. The town was once very productive and a hotbed for tourists who would come to visit the town's beautiful beaches. But the whole outlook on this town suddenly changes within a period of 12 days when a shark attacked the waters on the Jersey shore, killing 4 individuals while disabling another. - This movie is loosely based on that story. In the movie, young lifeguard Alex first witnesses one of the town's most wealthiest children killed before his very eyes by a man-eating shark. when the victim is finally rescued from the water it is too late to save him. The initial reaction of the mayor and townspeople of the first attack is that they don't believe Alex is telling the truth - but then they later recant and assure everyone that another shark attack will not happen again. Well, a few days later when yet another attack does occur, this time killing Alex's lifeguard friend, ripping both legs violently from his body, the mayor and all who doubted now try and gain money from the incidents that are occurring. There would be 2 more deaths and a crippling injury that would occur hands, or should I saw jaw of the shark until one day Alex, his boat captain friend and strangely, a circus lion tamer, who traveled there to make some dough off the shark as well, inflict punishment on the beast ultimately killing it. 12 DAYS OF TERROR is one of those films that I knew very little about, but what I did know is that it aired on the Animal Planet channel or something of the like. Usually what this means is that the film is really BAD, and well add this to that list because 12 DAYS OF TERROR isn't very good at all. This film may be titled "12 DAYS OF TERROR", but honestly it is more like "12 Days Of Nothing" I am sure that the true events that happened in 1915 were far more interesting, but in the case of this movie it is delivered at a very slow pace for at least the first hour and it is really difficult for one to stay focused on the story that they are seeing, and really there is no "terror" at all in this film. For the most part, the shark attacks in this film are shot out of view, so most of the time all we get is the water surrounding each victim colored red. But in rare instances in the film we do get the see, such as a victims leg in the attacking shark's mouth. It was also great to see that no stock footage of sharks was used here, as many low budget shark films often rely on this is one of the few things the film has going for it. Another thing it has going for it is it's old fashion look, centered in 1916, and it certainly looks like it, giving the film a refreshing feel. I apologize that this review is a little less in depth, but I am just not a huge fan of shark movies...and with the recent "boom" of multiple shark films being released, well that doesn't help either. 12 DAYS OF TERROR also has some dramatic subplots that it tends to fall back on, so much so that you almost forget that it's a shark film. If anything positive can be said I will say that I did enjoy this one better than the over hyped OPEN WATER, but then again is that really saying much? |
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| GORE
METER 2.5/10 Not very gory, one guy has an open leg wound, and some water colored blood red, if you consider that to be gory. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 3/10 Not anything I liked in particular really, it sounded like your basic shark attack movie score. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM While this film is labeled "based on a true story", it is my understanding that the shark actually got away and was not killed and was not ever identified as to what kind of shark it was( in the movie it is said to be a Great White) In my opinion, not the greatest adaptation nor film in general, but if you are a fan of shark films, you might want to see it just for the old fashion setting. But other than that I don't have enough reasons as to why i'd recommend 12 DAYS OF TERROR, it is definitely not something i'd watch again anytime soon... |
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