Just as Jaws turns 50 this summer, we’re gifted with Hot Spring Shark Attack (Onsen shaku), a movie that’s a combination of Jaws, Sharknado, and other schlocky rip-offs that would have played on the SYFY Channel during its heyday. Hot Spring Shark Attack is just what its title says. It’s a movie about sharks that attack a hot spring resort in Japan. It’s a ridiculous and bloody summer watch.
Directed and written by Morihito Inoue, the film borrows several narrative beats from Jaws. Instead of Amity Island, the film takes place in Atsumi City, Japan, a fancy resort town. Like Spielberg’s classic, the movie has a small-town sheriff, a mayor who wants to keep the city open, despite the shark attacks, and an academic who dissects which type of shark may be responsible.
Well, it turns out instead of one shark, there are countless sharks. They don’t look as good as Bruce, the mechanical shark Spielberg used that was plagued with a number of problems on set. In fact, the movie works better when the sharks are hardly seen. The special effects aren’t exactly this movie’s strong point, but they add to this B-movie creature feature’s weird sort of charm.
Though the film doesn’t exactly contain a Richard Dreyfuss or Roy Scheider-like performance, there are some standouts. Takuya Fujimura is hilarious as Kanichi Mangan, the resort town politician who won’t shut things down. He’s also a social media influencer and makes video after video urging tourists to come to Atsumi City. Yuu Nakanishi is also good as Mayumi Kose, a young academic who keeps her cool, despite the craziness continually unfolding around her. There’s a level-headedness to her that’s a nice contrast to the array of over-the-top characters.
Hot Spring Shark attack does swim one unique path from the countless other shark movies. It really uses the social media influencer angel well, and not only the Kanichi Mangan/mayor character. After the shark attacks begin, countless young people hold up their phones, hoping to document their next attack. Heck, some of them continue filming even while they’re devoured. It’s a funny but poignant aspect.
As for the storyline, well, none of it really makes sense. The sharks somehow swim through pipes to attack in the springs. Oh, and they’re somehow magically able to form hot springs throughout the community to continually attack. The whole thing is utterly bonkers, but again it adds to its absurd charm. There’s even a warrior-like character who can somehow pummel the sharks, make a fist, pound the ground, and scare them off. Yes, this movie has it all. One head scratching plot point after the other.
Hot Spring Shark Attack is as preposterous and wild as the name implies. It’s a creature feature that proudly rips off its influences and has a goofy good time in the process. If you want a classic, watch Jaws. If you want a B-movie creature feature, then go with this.
