Tooth power

Produced by Roger Corman back in 1978, the toothy original spawned a low-grade sequel, which marked the directorial debut of — believe it or gasp — James Cameron.

PIRANHA 3D
Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O’Connell
Direction: Alexandre Aja
Rating: **1/2

HT Image

Produced by Roger Corman back in 1978, the toothy original spawned a low-grade sequel, which marked the directorial debut of — believe it or gasp — James Cameron.

The much-feared man-eating fish are unleashed once again in this silly but enjoyable update. Piranha 3D begins with a cheeky nod to Steven Spielberg's cult classic, Jaws. Richard Dreyfuss who had escaped his run-in with a killer shark has to now contend with a pack of ravenous piranhas. Of course, he's not the only one struggling to keep himself from becoming fish food. A bunch of beach-loving co-eds are also on the menu. In feeding-frenzy mode, the titular monsters leave behind a trail of nastily chewed corpses at a lakeside resort.

Be warned. While it may lack the suspense and style of the first film, Alexandre Aja's retread does serve up copious amount of gore and titillation. Scenes like the ones where people (and a piranha) puke in 3D are certainly not meant for the squeamish.

So, do abstain from the munchies if you decide to dive into these bloody waters.