When the trailer for the shark thriller Shark Bait (which we first heard about when it was going by the title Jetski) arrived online a while back, the movie didn’t yet have a release date. But now it does! The Tubi streaming service has announced that they’ve picked up the Shark Bait distribution rights and will be releasing it as a Tubi Original on August 1st. The release of Shark Bait kicks off Tubi’s Shark Month: Bitefest programming fest, which will include one more shark-themed Tubi Original (a movie called Shark Side of the Moon) and seventy other titles that will be available to stream.
Shark Bait was directed by James Nunn, who has shark thriller experience, having previously worked as second unit director on both 47 Meters Down (watch it HERE) and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (watch that one HERE). Written by Nick Saltrese, Shark Bait centers on
a group of spring-breakers enjoying a weekend in Mexico. After a big night of partying on the beach until dawn, the friends steal a couple of jetskis and take them out to sea, but end up in a horrific head-on collision.
After one of the jetskis sinks, the group finds itself stranded two miles from land on one remaining, broken-down jetski, and struggling with a badly injured friend. With no clear way home and predators circling in the choppy waters below, the true horror begins.
Holly Earl (Dracula: The Dark Prince), newcomer Jack Trueman, Catherine Amy Hannay (Doctors), Malachi Pullar-Latchman (Open All Night), and Thomas Michael Flynn (Bridgerton) star. Judging by the trailer, it appears that the characters they play are quite stupid.
Ingenious Media, LipSync, Richmond Pictures, SquareOne Entertainment, and Saban Films teamed up to finance the film, which was produced by Andrew Prendergast and Chris Reed.
Prendergast described Shark Bait as “a nail-biting ride that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the very last minute.” SquareOne’s Al Munteanu, who executive produced the film, added:
A famished shark, college kids — what more do you need? However, finding real freshness in this genre is the holy grail and we believe with its unexpected twists and turns, Shark Bait has the DNA to become the next guilty pleasure that speaks to everyone’s desire not to get devoured.”
How does Shark Bait look to you? Will you be watching the movie on Tubi next month? Let us know by leaving a comment below.