Shark Attack 3: Megalodon is a horror film first released in 2002, starring John Barrowman. It is a sequel to Shark Attack, starring Casper Van Dien.
While investigating a string of shark attacks, a tooth from the man eater suggests that it is not any ordinary shark, but a megalodon — a prehistoric shark thought to be extinct.
This movie provides examples of:
- Artistic License – Paleontology:
- Megalodon were thought to be shallow water predators. So surviving millions of years in a deep sea vent? Not very likely. Surviving millions of years without anyone noticing? Also not likely. At least the latter point gets a lampshade on it.
- Subverted by the fact that this is one of the most predominant theories espoused by proponents of the megalodon's survival. The latter is somewhat justified considering how little of the ocean we've actually explored. Having said that, it's still unlikely.
- Asshole Victim:
- An executive steals his girlfriend's life vest and dives overboard straight into the mouth of the shark.
- Big "NO!": almost every kill is punctuated by multiple big "NO"s.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Tolley, the real villain in the piece. He knew about the sharks and did nothing!
- Disc-One Final Boss: After the first megalondon is killed, a much larger one appears.
- Fanservice: Bikini shots, cleavage shots, skinny dipping, lustful references to Jennifer McShane's bum, a hot Shower Scene, and, of course, John Barrowman.
- Just Desserts: The human villain leaves the passengers on a boat behind to die when the megalodon shows up, but he crashes his jetski into the shark's open mouth.
- Logo Joke: The logo of Apex Communications features a bright red arrow plunging downwards, lampshading its impending financial prospects. Though one doubts even bad investors expect to be eaten.
- Monster Is a Mommy: Or in this case, Monster Has A Mommy. One big mother of a mommy!
- Noisy Nature: Sharks do not roar. Especially underwater.
- Sex Starts, Story Stops: The girl actually thinks "The Line" is sweet. The next shot is the two of them having shower sex.
- So Long, Suckers!: The Corrupt Corporate Executive abandons his sinking yacht on a jet-ski while giving an Evil Laugh only to drive right down the throat of the giant shark.
- Steel Eardrums: Carpenter suffers no apparent ill-effects from an underwater torpedo explosion.
- Stock Footage: There's a ton of National Geographic shark footage.
- Suit with Vested Interests: A two-piece suit, if you will, the resort manager doesn't want the beaches closed but at least wants the problem solved. Then there is Tolley, the owner, whose wires are attracting the shark and who has a big wire junction opening coming up to which he will take a boat full of corporate guests. He knew there was a problem and still doesn't care and goes ahead with the launch of the magical shark attractors and boat ride.
- Threatening Shark: Not just a threatening shark, but a megalodon — a prehistoric variety of shark portrayed, essentially, as a gigantic great white shark.
- Too Dumb to Live: In the climactic yacht attack scene, the passengers, upon realizing their predicament, proceed to fetch life preservers and begin jumping INTO THE WATER with the shark.
- Not to mention the guy escaping on a jet ski. Instead of simply turning away from the approaching shark's open mouth, he spends about four seconds screaming with his hands in the air as if he's on a rollercoaster.
- Your Size May Vary: In the aforementioned yacht scene, the shark blatantly changes size from shot to shot, as it's mouth was only slightly wider than a single person but then it swallows a whole life raft full of people.
