Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus Trailer: Something's Fishy

Written by S.T. VanAirsdale

“That’s a pretty expensive joke!” writes a commenter at MTV Movies, which this week unleashed the trailer for a Z-grade monster flick known as Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus. The mini-sensation has grown formidably on the strength (or, rather, the weakness) of spellbindingly primitive CGI and a redoubtable power-tandem of Lorenzo Lamas and Deborah Gibson. And while there can be no doubt about the inspiration-by-the-ounce that went into the rendering of a great white gnawing on the Golden Gate Bridge, are we in the minority who will doubt it’s anything but an MTV stunt? But for what?

Don’t bother piecing together a story out of this; it’s hard enough to write about beyond wondering its provenance. If there is an actual 90-minute feature to stretch this into, then it comprises a fistful of bites (ahem) and shots crafted seemingly with just a trailer in mind. Gibson is awfully game for a scientist on the trail of such dark, deep-water nemeses (“Thrilla in Manila!” she cries). And Lamas… well, you know. If you were casting your shark vs. octopus pseudo-opus, who would be at the top of your list?

But if it’s fake, it’s a hell of an elaborate ruse. See the film’s IMDB and Amazon pages, the latter of which will actually sell you this DVD on preorder for May 19. Except that MTV lists the street date as May 26 — a few days before the MTV Movie Awards. And cult filmmaker Jack Perez (who directed no less than the pilot for Xena: Warrior Princess but is here credited by several sources as “Ace Hannah”) previously shot the 2004 horror comedy Monster Island for… MTV Productions. And why would MTV have an exclusive on a straight-to-DVD genre trailer anyway? So many questions — none more pressing either way than, “Does Lorenzo survive?” Gibson alone shouldn’t reap the big sequel payday.

· EXCLUSIVE: Feast Your Eyes On The Amazing ‘Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus’ Trailer!! [MTV]

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