‘Shark Island’ VOD Review
Stars: Paul Collett, Erin Alvey O’Sullivan, Russell Geoffrey Banks, Wayne Han, Zara Dragon, Poi Haywood, Alexandra Merle, Selina Wiesmann, Michael Paré | Written by Dustin Alexander III, Daniel Zirilli | Directed by Steven Edgewood
Beautiful women, deadly sharks, and dangerous criminals – that’s the enticing promise of Shark Island, the 2024 thriller directed by Steven Edgewood, which is now coming to digital platforms in the UK this month, courtesy of High Fliers. On paper, it sounds like the perfect mix of pulpy escapism: a tropical setting, glamorous models, and bloodthirsty sea creatures circling just beyond the shore. In practice, though, this low-budget production bites off more than it can chew, delivering a film that looks good on the surface but struggles to swim once the story begins.
The film opens with a group of fashion models travelling to a remote island somewhere off the coast of Thailand for a high-end photo shoot. They’re joined by a photographer-diver and a security guard, who has been hired to protect a priceless necklace: a piece of jewellery intended to be the star of the shoot and the focus of an upcoming sale. Naturally, the necklace becomes the root of greed and betrayal, and before long, someone on the island decides it’s worth killing for. Cut off from communication and surrounded by shark-infested waters, the survivors quickly realise that the only thing more dangerous than the ocean predators might be each other.
In terms of setting, Shark Island absolutely delivers. The Thai location is breathtaking, filled with crystal-clear waters, lush vegetation, and sun-drenched beaches that give the film a veneer of tropical luxury. Edgewood’s team uses the environment well, creating a convincingly remote and picturesque atmosphere that helps elevate the production beyond its modest means. Even when the plot falters, it’s hard not to appreciate how good the film looks. This strong visual component gives the impression of a higher-budget project than it actually is… a testament to the power of well-chosen locations.
The sharks themselves are presented mostly through stock or documentary-style footage, which is actually one of the film’s smarter decisions. Rather than relying on cheap CGI or unconvincing rubber models, Shark Island integrates real shark clips into its scenes. The result isn’t especially terrifying, but it does give a certain authenticity to the underwater sequences. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of shark action to speak of; the creatures are largely used as a narrative device to isolate the characters rather than as a central threat. Those hoping for a fast-paced, gore-filled shark movie will likely leave disappointed.
Instead, the film leans heavily into its mystery and crime elements. There’s a faintly whodunit quality as tensions rise and suspicions grow among the small group of stranded characters. The idea has potential – a murder mystery set against a shark-infested island should be irresistible – but the execution never quite clicks. The pacing is uneven, with long stretches of exposition and weak character development that make it difficult to care who lives or dies.
The low budget is apparent in other ways, too. The film’s sound design suffers, with some scenes featuring mismatched dialogue and distracting background noise. Plus performances vary wildly: while a few cast members are passable, others veer into wooden or outright awkward territory. Veteran actor Michael Paré makes a brief appearance in what feels like an afterthought of a role, adding little more than fleeting name recognition.
Ultimately, Shark Island feels like a missed opportunity. It’s a film with an enticing setup, a stunning location, and the potential to be either a pulpy thriller or a tongue-in-cheek genre romp. Instead, it sits somewhere uneasily in between too slow to be thrilling, too tame to be campy, and too shallow to resonate as a mystery. Even the deaths, which should provide the film’s main shocks, are staged with little tension or payoff.
By the time the credits roll, Shark Island resembles a glossy postcard from paradise – beautiful to look at, but emotionally and narratively empty. It’s the kind of film you might stumble across on a streaming service one lazy afternoon, half-watch for the scenery, and promptly forget once it’s over.
*½ 1.5/5
Shark Island is set for a digital release on November 10th.
