If you have seen Jaws, Jaws 2, Jaws 3 or Jaws 4, then you pretty much have the basic premise for Great White, a 1981 Italian film also known as L’ultimo squalo that is very much like the Spielberg picture and its sequels.  It is not to say that this is a terrible film even though it is also not all that great, but it is a lot of fun in the end.  Who can honestly say they do not love a movie about a killer shark going on a man-eating rampage?  How could you not enjoy seeing nature biting back against that which would destroy it?  If you do like these things, or simply like films made to resemble other films, then this movie is definitely for you.

Enzo G. Castellari directs this little masterpiece that sees a great white shark roll into Port Harbor intent on getting a meal or two.  The problem is that the residents of said community are not in the mood to be eaten which causes the shark no end of consternation.  Feelings aside, the shark is going to get his meal come hell or high water and so he does, chowing down on man and woman alike. Knowing that they are going to have a problem if the shark keeps killing people, Ron Hamer, professional shark hunter is called in to take care of business.  Port Harbor is then witness to one of the greatest battles the world has ever seen as man versus nature.

Ron Hamer as portrayed by Vic Morrow is the Robert Shaw character in this film, the man tasked with hunting the creature down by any and all means.  Standing opposite him is James Franciscus as Peter Benton, the other lead of the film who only wants to keep his family safe, kind of like Roy Schneider did in Jaws.  It is more than just the characters that are familiar as some of the scenes could have almost been ripped right out of that other famous shark movie as well as the basic story itself.  The filmmakers could really have just called this Jaws 2.5 and just slid it right into canon it is so similar.  There are differences of course, it is simply that overall, the movie looks and feels too familiar.

So while some of it was obviously lifted, it is actually still enjoyable, especially because of the horrid special effects.  Stock footage is used in some cases and the shark itself when seen is half-impressive and half-embarrassing.  More often than not, it is funny to see the shark kill its victims as it is so ridiculous, especially the helicopter scene.  Overall though, as lame as it might sound, there were some good performances and it was surprisingly well-made.  Catch it if you can and you are sure to have a good time with it.

3 out of 5