Sharksploitation documentary sheds light on shark thrillers

Last Updated on August 10, 2021

Forty-six years have passed since Jaws (watch it HERE) had everyone scrambling to cash in on the success of the shark thriller, and fans still can't seem to get enough of watching fake sharks chomp on fictional characters. We never go very long without hearing an announcement that a new shark thriller is heading into production, so these types of films are definitely due to be examined by a documentary – and Stephen Scarlata, producer of the documentary Jodorowsky's Dune, has stepped up to take on the huge task of making a documentary on Sharksploitation.

Scarlata is directing Sharksploitation and producing it with Kerry Deignan Roy and Josh Miller. 

The feature-length documentary will delve into the sub-genre of sharksploitation films, from Corman's 1958 She Gods of Shark Reef to the release of Jaws and the subsequent knock-offs.

Scarlata had this to say about the project: 

The movie Jaws had a massive impact on me becoming a filmmaker, and it began my lifelong fascination with sharks. … I love these films, and with each one I watch, my love grows more vital for the species, and my heart breaks more over the horrors they go through in everyday life, from overfishing to shark finning. This documentary is the ultimate love letter to the shark movie genre, filmmakers who work hard to make these films, and to the misunderstood species themselves."

Interviews have already been conducted with Roger Corman (who recently produced the likes of Sharktopus and Dinoshark), Piranha director Joe Dante, Jaws 1-3 writer Carl Gottlieb, 47 Meters Down and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged director Johannes Roberts, and Jaws: The Revenge cast member Mario Van Peebles. Scarlata and his collaborators also recently secured an interview with marine and environmental conservation advocate Wendy Benchley, the widow of Jaws author Peter Benchley.

Sharksploitation is currently participating in the Frontières co-production market, organized by the Fantasia International Film Festival in tandem with Cannes’ Marché du Film. Scarlata said interviews with more filmmakers and conservation/marine biologists will be conducted after Frontières.

We'll keep you updated on this documentary as it continues moving forward.