When AI Goes Fin-tastic: A Dive into the "Chum" Catastrophe
There's a certain, shall we say, unsettling charm to shark movies. They're a genre built on primal fears and the thrill of the hunt, and while "Jaws" remains the undisputed king, the rest of the pack often resorts to B-movie antics. I usually go into these with a healthy dose of skepticism, ready to embrace the schlock. But "Chum," unfortunately, pushes the boundaries of what even a forgiving viewer can endure, opting for AI-generated carnage over any semblance of genuine entertainment.
The Perils of Predictable Plotting
What makes "Chum" so particularly frustrating is its utter lack of originality, even within its own derivative premise. We're presented with a group of friends, including a seemingly miserable newlywed couple, whose Mediterranean yacht trip quickly devolves into a fight for survival. To add insult to injury, they're caught between a hungry shark and a vengeful killer who uses them as bait. Personally, I find it baffling how many films in this genre still rely on such tired tropes. The killer's motivation, while a step away from pure sadism, still feels like a plot device that's been done to death. It raises the question: why bother with a complex narrative when the core concept is already so familiar?
The Alice Eve Effect and the Abyss of Amateur Acting
One thing that immediately stands out, and not in a good way, is the acting. With the exception of Alice Eve, who at least seems to be attempting to inject some life into her role, the performances are alarmingly reminiscent of a SyFy original movie. The dialogue is stilted, the character dynamics are infuriating, and the sheer insufferability of the protagonists had me, dare I say, rooting for the shark. It's a testament to how poorly these characters are developed that my primary emotional response is one of annoyance rather than fear. From my perspective, a film lives or dies by its characters, and "Chum" seems to have forgotten that fundamental rule.
When VFX Go Wild: The AI Shark Attack
The visual presentation of "Chum" is where things truly spiral into absurdity. While the film attempts to blend real shark footage with CGI, the execution is, to put it mildly, disastrous. The filmmakers have clearly leaned heavily on AI for their post-production, resulting in some of the most bizarre and unconvincing shark attacks I've ever witnessed. There's a disquieting floatiness to the victims, a surreal quality that makes the violence feel less terrifying and more like a glitchy video game. What's particularly jarring is when the AI attempts to depict actions for which there's no real-world footage. It's in these moments that the illusion shatters, revealing a digital mess that detracts from any potential for suspense.
The Art of Stretching and Unintentional Comedy
Beyond the abysmal special effects, the editing choices in "Chum" are equally perplexing. I lost count of the number of times the film seemed to be desperately stretching for time, employing slow-motion on mundane actions like a man simply boarding a boat. This, coupled with an overzealous musical score that ramps up the melodrama at the slightest hint of water, creates an atmosphere ripe for unintentional comedy. What this really suggests is a profound misunderstanding of pacing and narrative tension. Instead of building suspense, the film inadvertently becomes a parody of itself, leading to moments of genuine, albeit unintended, amusement. It's a curious phenomenon when a film's greatest strengths lie in its failures.
A Spectacle of Sub-Par Cinema
Ultimately, "Chum" is a stark reminder of how far a shark movie can fall. The trailer may have hinted at a more grounded, real-footage-driven thriller, but the reality is a film that feels like a barely-improved "Shark Attack 3: Megalodon." While it might offer a certain schadenfreude-fueled amusement when watched with friends, anyone seeking even a modicum of cinematic competence should steer clear. This isn't just a bad shark movie; it's one of the roughest I've encountered, especially for a theatrical release. It leaves me pondering what constitutes "effort" in filmmaking when such a product can reach cinemas. Perhaps the most charitable interpretation is that "Chum" serves as a cautionary tale, a digital monument to what happens when ambition outstrips ability, and AI is unleashed without proper human oversight. The film is slated for a theatrical release on June 5th, 2026, a date that, in hindsight, might be more of a warning than an announcement.
