Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus

Plot

Off the coast of Alaska, oceanographer Emma MacNeil studies whale migration in an experimental submarine she took without permission. A military helicopter drops sonar transmitters into the water, causing whales to ram a glacier; the helicopter crashes into the glacier, breaking it open and freeing two hibernating prehistoric creatures: a giant shark and a giant octopus. Later, a drilling platform off Japan is attacked by the octopus, whose tentacles wrap around the structure and cause a subduction along the coast. MacNeil investigates a beached whale covered in bloody wounds; she extracts a shark tooth from a wound.

Elsewhere, the huge shark leaps from the ocean and attacks a commercial aircraft, forcing it to crash. A review board fires MacNeil for stealing the submarine. She brings the tooth to her former professor Lamar Sanders, a former U.S. Navy pilot, who identifies it as belonging to a megalodon, a shark species extinct for 1.5 million years. Japanese scientist Dr. Seiji Shimada joins them, and they review a videotape from MacNeil's submarine showing both creatures.

MacNeil wonders if the creatures are mankind's comeuppance for global warming. A U.S. naval destroyer engages the megalodon but is destroyed. The trio is arrested and taken to government official Allan Baxter, who demands their help in destroying the creatures, noting the creatures can produce seismic subductions. They agree to help in exchange for an attempt to capture the creatures for study.

Reception

The film received mostly negative reviews, with a 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average score of 3.34/10. The consensus described it as having shoddy effects, acting, and directing, calling it so bad it is terrible. Peter Whittle of The Sunday Times gave it one out of five stars, calling it unwatchable and comparing it unfavorably to Plan 9 from Outer Space. Philip French of The Observer criticized the risible special effects and clumsy acting, likening them to the ineptitude of Ed Wood.

Kim Newman of Empire magazine gave it two out of five stars, calling it daft but with a few daft spectacular stunts. Scott Mendelson of The Huffington Post also gave two out of five stars, stating the actors are appropriately terrible and the story is completely absurd. Bill Gibron of PopMatters gave an 8 out of 10, praising it as an extremely tacky dish and commending Gibson's performance. Stephen of The Three Rs gave a 7 out of 10, calling the plane attack scene the epitome of monster awesome.

Sequels

Following the trailer's buzz, Gibson hinted at a sequel, suggesting a giant seahorse or a 500-foot lobster. In mid-2010, The Asylum released Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus on December 21, 2010, with a new cast and director; the original cast and director did not return.

The opponent was originally planned to be a Gigantosaurus. The third chapter, Mega Shark Versus Mecha Shark, was released on January 28, 2014, with Gibson reprising her role. A fourth film, Mega Shark vs. Kolossus, was confirmed in February 2015 and premiered on July 7, 2015.

Did You Know?

• Efforts to convert the movie into 3D were scrapped when the studio failed to acquire adequate funding for 3-D film.
• Principal photography took place over twelve days in January 2009, much of it at the AES Alamitos power station near Long Beach, California.
• The film is notable as one of the few American films to feature an Asian American male as a romantic lead, with Vic Chao's character Dr. Seiji Shimada serving as a love interest for Debbie Gibson's character.