Piranha (1978)

Updated: Aug 2, 2021

GENERAL

The Breakdown: While looking for two missing teenagers, a young woman accidentally releases genetically mutated piranha into the local river.

Watch If: You like wild, ridiculous romps through horror spoofs (Without the gross factor)

Not If: You tend to favor gagging with your comedy.

Similar To: Lake Placid (1999)

SECONDARY FACTS

Overall Rating: 3.6

Length: 1:46

Country: USA

Language: English

Scare Factor: 2/5

Gore Factor: 2/5

Related Media: Sequel [Piranha II: The Spawning (1981)] 2 Remakes [Piranha (1995)] [Piranha 3D (2010)] 1 Remake Sequel [Piranha 3DD (2012)]

REVIEW

THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Piranha focuses more on ridiculousness and humor than on grossness or even gore, and manages not to sacrifice the plot to achieve this. It is an absolute delight for any genre enthusiast.

PREMISE: 4

It is a rare and glorious thing to find a film that is both original and hilariously generic at the same time. The premise is, while ridiculous, easy to get over and in no way hinders the experience. It's amusing without being pure comedy, and doesn't sacrifice the basic tenants of film making to accommodate worthless humor.

ACTING: 3

No one's getting any awards for this one, but in a niche genre that is perpetually saturated in talentless drivel, seeing better-than-average performances are a rare treat. The actors knew what they were doing, and what's more, they took their roles seriously, which makes the humor that much more effective.

VISUALS: 3

With the exception of one very strange and very out of place clay-mation Piranha mutant, there was nothing egregious or all that noteworthy about Piranha. The use of skeletons was humorous without taking away from the atmosphere, and the quick, choppy cutaway scenes both prevented us from getting too much of a look at the fish, and paid ribbing homage to its inspiration, Jaws (1978).

ATMOSPHERE: 3

Piranha manages to be both witty and compelling. It capture the viewer with a progressing plot while still holding true to its comedic intent. All in all, this film knew what it wanted to be, and hit it dead on.

DELIVERY: 5

I love this film. Is it the best ever? Certainly not. But it is a fun blend of humor and horror that manages to straddle that delicate line between funny and trashy. The story is entertaining, and the characters are understandable, (and not the dumbest people on the planet.) Piranha manages to excel at something that modern film-makers only dream of recreating.