When four friends go to an island getaway, they quickly discover that they’re sharing their island resort with a lab that’s infected a shark with a zombie virus.
Listen, if you’re watching Syfy movies expecting any budget or high-caliber acting, you’re going to be disappointed. If, however, you embrace the bad CGI, ridiculous plots, and forgettable performances, then you’re in the right place. Zombie Shark is exactly what you think it is. A movie about a zombie shark. One thing you can always appreciate about a Syfy original title: they’re not going for subtlety or ambiguity.
Amber, her sister, and a few friends are just wanting an island getaway after working a bit too hard and then end up fighting a zombified shark. Don’t you hate it when that happens? This is not the first time zombie movies have played with the idea of a zombie shark. The 1979 film Zombi 2 features a zombie fighting a shark. But this is the first time an entire movie has been devoted to a shark that has been zombified.
Directed by Misty Talley, Zombie Shark is the first Syfy original movie directed by a woman. Given that Syfy had been producing original movies for nearly two decades by that point, Talley’s appointment was long overdue. There’s an obvious appreciation for the killer shark subgenre. There are subtle and not-so-subtle references to well-known predecessors. The titular shark is named “Bruce” (if you know, you know), and there is absolutely a Deep Blue Sea moment that is good for a solid laugh. Having the shark’s point of view was a smart choice, and leaning even further into it would have helped mask the less-than-stellar CGI. As we all learned from Jaws, sometimes less is more effective. Talley clearly understands the kind of movie she is making, something she’s continued to embrace by directing several similarly themed sharksploitation films for Syfy.
One of the challenges of shark movies is that you can simply…stay out of the water, and the problem largely solves itself. Screenwriter Greg Mitchell finds a clever workaround by making the bite from a zombie shark infectious regardless of species, giving the threat room to spread beyond the ocean. It’s a fun idea that adds another layer of danger, but the film never quite pushes the concept far enough. That’s a shame because viewers come to Syfy originals for camp, excess, and ridiculous fun. Zombie Shark occasionally leans into that spirit, but it’s at its most entertaining when it fully embraces the absurdity promised by its title.
Like many Syfy original movies, the cast is filled with people you may or may not recognize from TV. No one is watching these films for the acting, and the acting in this one often leaves a bit to be desired. There’s not really any standout or even memorable performances in the bunch, save maybe for the CGI shark, which is chewing on some scenery.
Zombie Shark isn’t going to convert anyone who already rolls their eyes at Syfy originals, but that’s not its goal. For fans of low-budget creature features, there’s enough affection for the genre, and enough knowingly ridiculous fun, to make it an entertaining way to spend ninety minutes.
Zombie Shark can be found streaming on several platforms