Reviewed by Geno McGahee
The 1970s was the best time for horror movies and I was fortunate to discover another obscure gem called: BARRACUDA. With the success of JAWS, other movies began to emerge, taking advantage of the “killing fish in the water” storyline. Both PIRANHA and BARRACUDA were released in 1978, three years after the success of the original JAWS. PIRANHA was successful while BARRACUDA went relatively unseen by the public.
BARRACUDA begins with two scuba divers swimming in the ocean and they are brutally attacked by barracudas. You have to begin a film like this in this manner. JAWS did it and this is sort of inspired by that film, so may as well start off with victims. Now we have a biologist, Mike Canfield (Wayne Crawford), and his team swimming in the ocean and taking water samples, investigating the chemical plant that may be dumping harmful chemicals into the water. Of course, this doesn’t go unnoticed by plant owner Papa Jack (Bert Freed), and he uses his authority to get Mike arrested and away from the water.
While in the holding cell, Mike meets the nicest cop that has ever graced film, Sheriff Williams (William Kerwin). He treats Mike very well, even introducing him to his very attractive daughter, Liza (Roberta Leighton). He’s hooking his daughter up with prisoners! OK, Mike has a good job and has good hair, but it still seems strange that he’s doing that. Why not hook her up with his deputy, Lester (Cliff Emmich)? Sure, he’s very fat, but some girls are “chubby chasers” and maybe she’d dig Lester. Whatever the case, the love connection is between Mike and Liza.
The sheriff senses something strange is going on in the town and looks to Mike to figure it out. There are people getting eaten alive in the ocean, a secretive chemical plant, and typically calm and kind people in the town turning into violent and aggressive jerks. Most of the people that were kind at one time, refer to others as “stupid,” and it was very amusing to watch. A simple mistake would prompt a “stupid idiot” response. So, there is something strange going on in this town, and we also have some strangers in black suits that add to the mystery.
Mike finds strange chemicals in the water samples and then teams up with the local scientist, Dr. Elliot Snow (Jason Evers), to figure this out, but there is a conspiracy here, and that scientist may not be the most trustable guy in the world…but then again, everyone in the town is suspect. The violent fish are just part of the problem. All signs point to the chemical plant but there is more to this story.
This movie keeps you guessing and makes up for the so-so special effects with a great storyline and amusing and interesting characters. This was actually written and directed by the star of the film, Wayne Crawford, and he did a great job with all three of his occupations in this production.
BARRACUDA is a film that may have gotten lost in the mix of killer fish movies, but it is a quality film with some great twists and a fantastic ending. I highly recommend it.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8/10. Is that an electric eel in your pants?