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Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens

In a genre full of sequels and franchises, it's hard to believe that after four entries, the SHARKNADO series is till running strong. Yet despite a one note punchline, does SHARKNADO 4 still have bite or is it drowning a joke that should have fin(ished) a long time ago?

 

Picking up several months after Finn (Ian Ziering) battled sharks in space with lightsaber chainsaws (yes, that happened), believing long term girlfriend April (Tara Reid) to be dead, heads to Vegas for a vacation in a world that has been free from a Sharknado attack for five years now. Rest assured, despite the attractions the sharks now make in the makeshift Shark park, where there's a Finn, there's a Sharknado.

 

Opening up with a crazy whirlwind theme park ride, SHARKNADO 4 never lets go and if you thought sharks in space was ridiculous, wait until you see pirates versus sharks. Yes, SHARKNADO 4 does not attempt to tone down the absurd action and instead ramps it up even further than any of the prequels have seen before. No franchise is safe as the movie becomes somewhat of a parody of other movies, ridiculing THE FORCE AWAKENS, pop culture and a charming pop at the TEXAS CHAINSAW universe. "It wouldn't be Texas without a chainsaw massacre."

 

Finn, April and a host of z-list American cameos (Corey Taylor, Gary Busey and a show stealing turn from Gilbert Gottfried) are banded together in the series most farcical entry and it's even better for it. Rest assured, if you want terror, you won't get it here but amidst the modest budget (at least for an Asylum movie) are some entertaining bursts of fun and just when you think the film has run out of ideas, another card is pulled from under the sleeve, a bouldernado? A firenado? An Oilnado? A lavanado? How about a Nuclearnado?

 

Kudos to Anthony C. Ferrante who has carried the series, probably the most longest continuation for a franchise to keep its writer/director. Fortunately the long running time of episode 3 did feel like a drag and quite wisely the fourth entry strips it back and gives a roller coaster ride of action and laughs to keep you interested.

 

The cast give it their all, a little too much at times but it all adds to the charm, just when you thin Tara Reid is about to cry, there's a punchline and as the camera unfolds a barren of playboy models running the control centre, there is nothing serious about SHARKNADO and anyone expecting anything more should turn their attentions to THE SHALLOWS and awy from this midnight monster horredy. Come on, it has the Chippendales fending off sharks with their crotch!

 

The passion that is pumped into SHARKNADO never tries too hard to satisfy, but stays on the right side of ludicrous to make this one of the best comedies of the year. The question now lies, how long can the franchise survive? Well, so long as there is a drop of originality (who else could put a shark in a shark, in a shark?) the force will be strong in this one.

Director: Anthony C. Ferrante

Released: 2016

Running Time: 95 minutes

Age Rating: 15

 

Reviewer: Martyn Wakefield

RATING


Plot: 3
Fear: 1
Gore: 3


R4/5​

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