Grimmfest 2025: ‘Beast of War’ Review
Stars: Mark Coles Smith, Joel Nankervis, Sam Delich, Lee Tiger Halley, Sam Parsonson, Maximillian Johnson, Tristan McKinnon, Steve Le Marquand, Masa Yamaguchi | Written and Directed by Kiah Roache-Turner
Written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, Beast of War delivers an unexpected blend of war drama and creature feature, setting its shark attacks against the grim backdrop of World War II. Set in 1942, the story follows a group of Australian soldiers whose ship is sunk by Japanese warplanes. Adrift on a makeshift raft in the Pacific, their fight for survival takes a terrifying turn when a massive great white shark begins stalking them – all while enemy forces may still be nearby.
From its opening scenes, Turner’s film distinguishes itself through atmosphere. The thick sea fog, scattered wreckage, and eerie sound design, especially the haunting wail from a broken siren attached to the shark’s fin, create a sense of surreal dread. The film embraces its horror stylings rather than strict realism, giving the oceanic nightmare an almost supernatural edge despite being grounded in wartime reality.
The characters help anchor the tension. Central to the story is Mark Coles Smith’s Leo (an Aboriginal soldier played with quiet conviction), his bookish friend Will (Joel Nankervis), and Des (Sam Delich), a volatile bigot whose hostility adds human menace to the mix. While some supporting roles lack depth, the camaraderie between the trio feels authentic, and the dialogue captures a distinctly Australian tone that may remind viewers of British war dramas. The early training sequences are convincingly staged and lend credibility to their brother-in-arms bond.
The shark itself is created through practical effects rather than CGI, making for an impressive centrepiece. Its design is monstrous, stylised more like a demon of the deep than a natural predator. This tactile realism gives the attacks a brutal immediacy, aided by moments of practical gore that never stray into excess. However, the limitations of physical effects also show: the shark’s movements are slow, and the heavy use of slow motion can sap tension. Similarly, the eerily calm water betrays the low-budget tank filming, robbing some scenes of the open-ocean peril they aim to evoke.
Despite these flaws, Beast of War succeeds as an atmospheric survival thriller. It’s not a reinvention of the shark genre; after all, few films could be, but the World War II framing and practical craftsmanship offer enough novelty to keep things engaging. Roache-Turner leans into mood, sound, and texture over spectacle, crafting a film that feels both gritty and strangely dreamlike.
Ultimately, Beast of War is a stylish, eerie, and surprisingly human take on familiar territory. Its pacing may drag in parts, and its realism occasionally wavers, but its sense of place, character interplay, and eerie tone make it stand out among modern shark movies.
***½ 3.5/5
A tense and visually distinctive wartime creature feature that favours mood over mayhem, Beast of War screened as part of this year’s Grimmfest on October 9th. The film is also out now on DVD and Blu-ray from Signature Entertainment.
