Review of Barracuda

Given the premise (a small coastal community beset by ferocious flesh-eating barracuda in the ocean), one would easily assume that this is yet another run-of-the-mill opportunistic "Jaws" cash-in. However, the scenes with the titular fish attacking people are surprisingly few and far in between, with a greater emphasis instead on a conspiracy thriller plot that takes on truly unsettling monolithic proportions as the narrative unfolds towards a genuinely startling surprise bummer ending. Alas, the sluggish pacing, perfunctory direction, and an overly talky script all unfortunately prevent said conspiracy angle from acquiring the necessary tension and momentum it really needs to seriously cook the way that it ought to. On the plus side, Wayne Crawford as a crusading biologist and Wiliam Kerwin as the folksy sheriff make for personable heroes, the underwater photography is sharp and impressive, the overall brooding tone astutely captures a distinctly 70's post-Watergate sense of vehemently anti-government distrust and cynicism, and Klaus Schulze's moody'n'energetic score hits the quivery ooga-booga spot something sweet. Moreover, there are solid supporting contributions from Roberta Leighton as the perky Liza Williams, Cliff Emmich as bumbling overweight deputy Lester, Jason Evers as the nefarious Dr. Elliott Snow, and Bert Freed as crusty CEO Papa Jack. It's just a shame that this movie never quite obtains the essential punch that in turn would give it a more substantial impact. As it is, this flick ain't half bad, but it could (and should) have been ever better.