Smokey and the man, bit

Sam Fuller’s Shark! is one of those films where the behind-the-scenes drama often overshadows what ends up on screen. Initially conceived as a thrilling adventure set against the sun-scorched landscapes of the Red Sea, it stars Burt Reynolds as Caine, a gunrunner entangled with a treasure-seeking couple and, naturally, a very menacing shark.

In the sweltering waters of the Red Sea, down-on-his-luck gunrunner Caine (Burt Reynolds) reluctantly partners with the enigmatic Anna (Silvia Pinal) and her cunning associate, Professor Mallare (Barry Sullivan), in a quest to recover sunken treasure under the cover of a scientific expedition. Along the way, Caine encounters Runt (Manuel Alvarado), a young local pickpocket who becomes his loyal sidekick. As they dive deeper into their perilous mission, they face not only the lurking threat of a deadly shark but also the very real dangers of greed and betrayal within their own ranks.

The production was notoriously troubled, marred by on-set accidents and budgetary constraints that overshadowed Fuller’s vision. Reynolds himself was reportedly dissatisfied, a sentiment reflected in the film’s often disjointed feel. Intended as a gripping tale of adventure and danger, the result is a somewhat fragmented story that struggles to maintain tension and coherence.

Yet, the movie’s atmosphere is undeniably immersive, benefiting from its exotic location. The cinematography captures the arid beauty of the setting, almost redeeming the film’s slower, more tedious moments. Almost. The pacing drags, and the script meanders, often leaving Reynolds to carry the film with his natural charisma.What works in Shark! is the visual and atmospheric depth, showcasing Fuller’s ability to conjure a world both alluring and perilous. The supporting cast, particularly Pinal and Kennedy, manage to infuse their roles with depth despite the often lacklustre dialogue. There remains a rugged charm to Shark!, hinting at what might have been a gripping adventure had the stars aligned more favourably during its troubled production.

In the grand oeuvre of Sam Fuller, Shark! treads water in the shallower end. Known for his gritty, hard-hitting narratives, Fuller’s touch here seems diluted, his usual storytelling vigour compromised. The themes of human greed and survival are present but lack the punch seen in his more acclaimed works like Pickup on South Street or The Big Red One. There are elements of Reynolds’ performance as Caine that evoke a mix of Sean Connery’s Bond and Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones, with his relationship with Runt sketching a dynamic fully realized decades later in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Ultimately, Shark! is a cinematic curiosity. It offers glimpses of adventure amidst its sun-drenched backdrops, but much like a mirage, it fades upon closer inspection. The apocryphal tale of a stuntman’s death by shark during filming adds a layer of grim intrigue, but in the end, it’s not much more than a dirty, pulpy adventure movie that doesn’t quite realize its full potential.