Bait (2012)

   

Directed by: Kimble Rendall

Written by: Russell Mulcahy & John Kim

Starring:

Xavier Samuel .... Josh
Sharni Vinson .... Tina
Adrian Pang .... Jessup
Qi Yuwu .... Steven
Alex Russell .... Ryan
Phoebe Tonkin .... Jaime
Martin Sacks .... Todd
Alice Parkinson .... Naomi
Julian McMahon .... Doyle
Dan Wyllie .... Kirby
Damien Garvey .... Colins
Cariba Heine .... Heather
Lincoln Lewis .... Kyle

Release Dates: Venice Film Festival: September 1, 2012; Limited Theatrical: September 9, 2012 (USA); Theatrical: September 20, 2012 (Australia); Theatrical: November 29, 2012 (Singapore)

 

Rating:

 

During freak tsunami, people are trapped in a supermarket as lots were killed or drowned but the remaining survivors had to deal with a terrorising great white that killed others a year before at a public beach.

 

A very entertaining beginning of the story when people truck the Australian beach by surfing or catching waves which looked like alot of fun as well as our main character Josh hungover from the day before and working one of his jobs as a lifeguard.
Nice shots on the people swimming as well as what lurks underneath as this for sure is a chilling moment that a great white will attack and boy do things look terrorising later on and will please gorehounds.
Then a year passes and Josh works for a supermarket and has to encounter shoplifters as well as some goons trying the rob the store as well as shooting one of the managers and situations like that which beefs things up.
The town is in bigger danger as
a tsunami wave occurs which looked highly suspenseful and floods the city. However the special effects looks mildly cheesy to watch the outcome of this as you could somewhat tell that it was computerised. However things look believably tragic with certain locals being killed from all of this and the rest trying to fight for their lives.
We get a sinking feeling that the killer shark will arise and try to feast on the people trying to survive from this madness. We spot something lurking in the water with a fin revealing. Suddenly things become very deadly. Expecially froma flakey teenage couple trapped under water in their vehicle with a yappy annoying dog. This shark tries to smash the glass of the vehicle and tries to attack which offers some nice terror to the scene.
More terror surrounds situations than the shark as someone agrees to shut off power from a loose wire and is in an armour tyoe suit to prevent the shark from attacking him but however something fails and it isn't pretty at all.
A nice near jumping moment when someone tries to open a vent and crabs spill out of it as this looked creepy to watch. Plus there's a real jumping moment afterwards when this person is trying to reach out to get into the vent. This was super terrorising on what happens which I will keep this situation a secret to dare you to watch as to what will happen.
Meanwhile someone tries to save the couple with the dog that's trapped in their vehicle and it looked struggling when they try to get away from the shark as this was a mind blower keeping your eyes peeled wondering if they will be the next victims.
Suddenly we realise that one of the survivors were one of the people that planned to rob the supermarket so it doesn't look pretty for what he plans to do in order to use someone as bait to try and kill the shark which looked evil but the tables are turned on him which was a nice cheering moment.
The final moments looked very effective when the survivors plan to use tasers with carefully shots on this but nothing too spectacular.
Bottom line is that the film offers alot of suspense but it doesn't go anywhere too much since it's mainly located in the washed up supermarket. It's almost a Jaws type of ripoff. The story is a bit bland but like mentioned some well drawn in moments with the shark attacks and the struggling.

The acting is is pretty well performed with a large cast but only certain one's worth mentioning like the lead actor Xavier Samuel (Josh) drew in well with his performance by acting troubled and feeling down as he brought this to life. He also shows off great energy when the terror piles up and acting fast on knowing what to do in the situation that he's involved with.
Sharni Vinson (Tina) stood out greatly as someone whom is mature and calm in the situations. She knew on how to act believeably wise with situations and does well with her speaking. Her likeable attitude really shines big time.
Adrian Pang (Jessup) really stood out powerfully in his role as he offers a good sharp attitude and a believeable cocky behavior. He shows off his energy a great deal and does well within delivering his lines. A decent character actor.
Phoebe Tonkin (Jaime) was perfect as the rebellious teenage shoplifter. She offers a great arrogant attitude during the beginning of the story as she does this powerfully. Also later on shows a nice caring and emotional behavior so she has a nice versatality into her part. I found that she had the most effective supporting role in this flick.
Martin Sacks (Todd) who played her father as an officer lived to portray this role as he had the perfect tough looks and appeal. He also was good with his emotionless personality and speaking. Studied this part inside out as you can tell. He was a great force of nature.
Dan Wyllie (Kirby) was another effective powerful one with a supporting role. He knew inside out as an evil robber at the supermarket. Was terrific by planning to do something deadly with his aggressions going to the extreme. He also looked tough for the part too which was another plus.
Cariba Heine (Heather) seemed to perform quite nicely with her whiney and nagging behavior. She for sure reminds you as one of those annoying types that you had to deal with one way or another. She shows off some adrenaline within all of this.
Lincoln Lewis (Kyle) had the great presence and attitude as a dimwitted boyfriend as he does well by not getting with it. Had the good clean cut and brawny looks for the role like a boy next door type. Also knew on how to behave like an idiot and not having much common sense. Yup he knew his stuff and really got into his characteristics.

Bodies are bitten in half and torn up in the ocean
Battered up corpses are revealed in the washed up supermarket
Shark bites many people in half
Hand is cut off from a corpse
Violent bloodsheds are here and there
A blade is impaled in a criminals body and used for bait all slaughtered up

Joe Ng and Alex Oh does a nice job in this flick. There's some fast drum beats near the beginning of the film when sharks attack their victims which sounds pretty decent. Nice smooth violin music for the people whom are trapped in the washed up supermarket. More suspenseful classical music is used for the terrors that strikes which sounds fair.