 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Shark Night 3D
- Review Date: September 2, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Horror
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Violent 3D shark attacks ... and not much else.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this 3D horror movie -- in which college students are devoured by renegade sharks -- has lots of blood, but not as much as the even more brutal "torture porn" movies like Saw. The gore here is partly shown and partly suggested, but when it comes down to it, there's plenty of red stuff swirling in the water, along with severed limbs, chomping, and even an exploding shark. There's also fighting, stabbing, and shooting between humans, as well as brief partial nudity (partial glimpses of breasts while young women change). Sexual innuendo is strong; men ogle and objectify women, and everyone is clearly thinking about sex. Expect some use of language like "s--t" and "t-ts." College students drink lots of beer, and a local sheriff drinks beer and whisky, though no one appears drunk.
What's the story?
Uptight pre-med college student Nick (Dustin Milligan) is persuaded to spend a weekend partying with a group of friends -- including the pretty, mysteriously distant Sara (Sara Paxton) -- at Sara's lake house. It's not long before one of the partygoers, Malik (Sinqua Walls), loses an arm to a shark attack. In their efforts to get him to a doctor, some of the other young people likewise start turning into shark food. It turns out that the sharks' presence in the lake is no accident and can be traced back to one of Sara's former boyfriends. Can the students solve the puzzle and get out of the water before it's too late?
Is it any good?
Director -- and former stuntman -- David R. Ellis has previously helmed two of the Final Destination movies, as well as the infamous Snakes on a Plane, so he has a good grasp of the entertainment of destruction, though perhaps not a very thoughtful one. Many movies about killer aquatic creatures on the loose have succeeded due to a lightweight, carefree mood or an ironic tone; SHARK NIGHT has none of this.
The chemistry between the characters begins awkwardly and remains that way throughout the movie. Very often their behavior doesn't justify or "deserve" a shark attack, and there's a kind of sour tone, especially given the third-act plot twists. The visual effects are perhaps more designed for 3D thrills than they are for realism. The sharks look blatantly digital, and the attacks aren't particularly imaginative; the filmmakers clearly held back for a PG-13 rating (unlike 2010's truly outrageous Piranha 3D). Simply put, this shark has no bite.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's violence. What makes audiences scream -- and laugh -- at the shark attacks? Is it supposed to be scary, or something else?
The bad guys argue that people want to see real-life shark attacks. Do they have a point? Where have they crossed the line?
- How do 3D effects help or hinder this movie? What's the appeal of 3D?
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Kid, 11 years old
September 17, 2011
AGE
okay movie to much sex
This was pretty good, but it had horrible 3D and the sex and violence were pretty bad.
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AGE
Pretty Good. Great for Shark Lovers like me :)
I really liked this movie. It wasnt GREAT, but it was pretty good. I went with a groups of friends to see this, and i didnt see it in 3D. There anre some innapropriate parts, and some violence and drinking. But as long as your mature enough then I think youll be ok with this movie. This is a great movie if you love sharks and Shark Week. This movie feels like Shark Week to me :)
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Kid, 12 years old
September 5, 2011
AGE
Scary movie!
This was a good movie. Gory but not really gory. Some nudity like a man's butt was showing and a woman was drawing him. Some drinking of beer. Some sex like a womans top was off nothing showing then that woman and man were kissing. Lots of language.
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AGE
Should be rated R due to sex and drinking references
We took our 13 and 12 year olds to see this film, and walked out after 10 minutes...not due to the violence, but due to the inappropriate sexual innuendos, nudity and reference to getting girls drunk first. This should be rated R.
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AGE
Fun Movie
if you go to see this.... no what to expect. its a b-movie. the violence is very PG-13, and there is some blood in the water. the swearing is very little, and there is a nude guy from behind, and thats about it....
STAY UNTIL AFTER THE CREDITS!
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AGE
Made me Scream out Loud, but Fun!
This movie was very suspenseful, but loads of fun. I went with a group of friends and we were on the edge of our seats. The shark attacks were bloody, no doubt, but some attacks were worse than others. The one with the most screaming and thrashing was at the very beginning.
Being 14, I was pretty scared during this movie, so I say 15 and up will do just fine. Violent movie (duh) and there is partial nudity. (naked behind of a man who flexes his butt, and side view of breasts) BEWARE OF THE FINAL SCENE. The last 3 seconds is when I literally screamed out loud in the theater. (and I didn't see it in 3D) And stay after the credits for a bonus scene!
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AGE
Fantastic Movie for Teenagers!
I absolutely loved this movie! Once you get past the beginning, there's not any sexual stuff, except for one comment made by the creepy old guy. If you're under like, 13 or 14, I would wait for it to come out on dvd, so you can skip the beginning, and get to the real story.
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AGE
Good For SHARK LOVERS !
I saw this with my 15 year old sister (im 11) and it was really good movie. Yeah the sharks looked a little graphic but it was REALLY GOOD. We screamed so much in the movie theater and we were the only ones watching it beside the high school couple behind us , beware of the last part!!
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AGE
Ok Movie
Some Nudity Two Women Naked Nothing Seen, Women Forced At Gunpoint To Get Naked. NO SEX Just Gestures Lots Of Gore You See Guts. Nothing Else Bad Good Move For Kids 11 and Up
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AGE
great
My rating: R for strong bloody shark attacks, Brief strong language. some nudity, and sexual refrences.
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| Studios: | Relativity Media, Rogue Pictures |
| Director: | David R. Ellis |
| Cast: | Donal Logue, Dustin Milligan, Sara Paxton |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 91 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 2, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | January 3, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence and terror, disturbing images, sexual references, partial nudity, language and thematic material |
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