With a name like Raiders of the Lost Shark, I kind of expected the movie to be about hunting for Nazi treasure, while simultaneously being hunted by a Nazi created super shark. In truth, that is the farthest thing from what this movie is actually about, but that's on me. I knew it was a backyard budget movie with a crappy CGI shark in it, so I should have known better. For shame Bob, for shame.
The actual plot follows a security company of some sort, which has drilled too far down into a lake located somewhere in my home province of Ontario. This drilling has unleashed a killer shark who is rampaging in the shallow waters of the lake. Seems simple enough until you add in a mad scientist who used to work for the company. He has since taken his talents elsewhere and now lives on an island in said lake, using his free time to create genetically modified sharks. Modified to do what, you may ask. Well, dear reader, they have been genetically modified to fly. Yes, this movie features a terrible looking CGI shark that can fly.
Now, I can get behind any plot synopsis that includes flying sharks and bad CGI. But, the honest truth is, this movie never lives up to the standards of flying killer shark shenanigans. It mostly consists of random people walking half-naked into a lake and being eaten by a shark. Then it jumps to the odd scene with a goofy sheriff making jokes about Canada, then back to the lake for more undressing and death. Rinse and repeat. It breaks up the monotony near the end of the film, as there is some wandering around on an island, and the odd gore gag, but nothing too entertaining.
You can tell Raiders of the Lost Shark was made on a shoestring budget with a cast of friends and friends of those friends. At least people looked like they were having fun, but I bet the cold weather would have been a pain to film in when you are only wearing a bikini and shorts. As always, I applaud any backyard filmmaker for finishing a movie, at any quality, but this one didn't really do anything to keep me interested. It was kind of fun and goofy, but also pretty bad and not in a "so bad, it's good" way for a movie of this caliber.
Even with its short run time, I think you'd be better steering clear of this one. There isn't enough fun stuff to keep your mind from wandering, and the first half of the film seems to be on autopilot. The only mystery to this film is the room where the wall paint was painted around the furniture that is no longer there. Leaving outlines of tables and lamps. This room, I need to know more about.