A troop of Australian soldiers have to survive the elements, enemy advancements, and a nightmarish great white, after their ship sinks in the Timor Sea during their journey to the Pacific in World War 2.
Shark films are a diamond a dozen and usually worth ignoring. However, once in a great while, a film will enter the niche sub genre with enough originality, tenacity, and teeth to leave its mark in otherwise overpopulated waters. Beast of War does what so many have failed to do since the likes of Jaws or Deep Blue Sea sensationalized the nature of sharks and made multiple generations afraid to enter the ocean. Beyond that, Beast of War showcases the traumatic nature many recruits faced during the height of World War 2. Tensions are high long before anyone sets foot on a boat, and the narrative takes us on a journey that goes far beyond fearing an aquatic predator.
Beast of War is written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner. Kiah brought us Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead, Wyrmwood: Apocalypse, Neckrotonic, and 2024’s Sting. Their resume includes zombies, demons within the internet, and a perpetually growing spider that terrorized an apartment building. So there’s no surprise to me that the shark in Beast of War is physically real, and downright terrifying. While some underwater shots briefly showcase mild use of CG, Roache-Turner’s love for visual realism brings forth a practical shark that looks like it swam back from the dead. With dead eyes and an appearance that makes Jaws’ Bruce look like a Sea World attraction, Kiah’s aquatic threat is sure to stress out any viewer whenever it attacks. This is all thanks to Formation Effects, a VFX studio that has a history with such films as The Meg, Love and Monsters, and 30 Days of Night.
The human element is front-and-center from the beginning of the movie. Viewers are introduced to the young Australian men who are about to face the enemy on the Pacific Front. We follow Leo, Will, Des, Teddy, Thompson and Stan, played by Mark Coles Smith, Joel Nankervis, Sam Delich, Lee Tiger Halley, Sam Parsonson, and Maxamillian Johnson respectively. The crew is composed of Australian television actors who have a history of short films and small roles in larger productions, such as Sam Parsonson’s appearance in another WW2 film… 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge. Mark Coles Smith plays the lead, Leo. This role follows his appearance with Daisy Ridley in 2024’s We Bury the Dead. Leo is an accomplished swimmer with a troubled past, who’s survival instinct helps keep his fellow mates alive for as long as possible. Every one of these actors successfully portrayed men of bravado finding their true selves when faced with abrupt life-or-death situations.
The boys survive an attack on their ship in the Timor Sea on their way to the Pacific, but the fortunate members of the crew are the ones who died immediately. The small handful of survivors find themselves stranded on a single piece of wreckage that’s left drifting in the ocean. They have one opportunity for survival within a single motor boat that remains floating nearby. It would be a short swim to salvation if it wasn’t for the great white shark that was drawn in by blood and bodies in the water. No matter how long the men wait, the shark never seems to stray too far. Hope for rescue is minimal, as they’re caught in sea fog for days without any wind to blow it off. They have no provisions, minimal ammo, four grenades, and little hope to keep them clinging to life. They’ll have to withstand hunger and dehydration while relying on each other to survive subsequent shark attacks, and a few other unfortunate surprises.
The film is loosely based on the story of the HMAS Armidale, which sank in the Timor Sea after a Japanese attack in 1942. In real life, some survivors were attacked by sharks who were undoubtedly drawn in by the panicked thrashing and blood in the water. Beast of War embellishes the concept and asks, what if survivors were being hunted by just one? The result is a shark thriller worthy of a movie night. Personally, Beast of War has a home waiting for it on my media wall and I can’t wait to place a copy there.
The film is currently available digitally, with DVD and Blu-ray preorders now open through Well Go USA retailers.