Barracuda (1978)

Directors:

Harry Kerwin
Wayne Crawford

Writers:

Wayne Crawford (writer)
Harry Kerwin (writer)

Release Date:

January 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Little coastal town is being terrorized by deadly Barracudas. |

Plot Keywords:

Underwater Scene | Swimsuit | Barracuda | Newspaper Reporter | Silencer

Cast

Wayne Crawford	...	Mike Canfield
Jason Evers	...	Dr. Elliot Snow
Roberta Leighton	...	Liza Williams
Cliff Emmich	...	Lester
William Kerwin	...	Sheriff Ben Williams
Bert Freed	...	Jack
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Scott Avery	...	Toby
Wayne Hackett
Harry Kerwin	...	Agent Arriving #1
Matt King	...	Agent Leaving
Bobbie Ellyne Kosstrin	...	Maggie Snow
Ray Michel	...	Second Arguing Man
Robert G. Noe	...	Hotel Clerk
David Renier	...	Arguing Man on Street
Jerry Rhodes	...	Bubba
Rick Rhodes	...	Agent Arriving #2
Burt Richards	...	Security Guard
William Roundebush	...	Boy Student
Bob J. Shields	...	Floyd
Dick Sterling	...	Second Guard
Denise Taylor	...	Girl Student
Leigh Walsh	...	Girl Student

Also Known As:

Barracuda: The Sea Horror (Australia) (video box title)
The Lucifer Project

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:-12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Company:

American General Pictures

Thriller-mystery with the barracuda used to drum up interest from 'Jaws' devotees.

****POSSIBLE PLOT SPOILERS***

I was hoping for another corny 'Jaws' rip-off with this film, but after two unknown divers are killed in a long, drawn out, silent opening scene, the plot immediately changes itself into a land-based conspiracy thriller.

The story is based around the town of Palm Cove, where a large chemical plant is the main source of employment. Chemicals are being put into the water supply in an experiment to control the population - they are also leaking into the sea and stimulate aggression in the local barracuda.

There isn't much to get excited about here - a few 'Jaws' links are of minor interest: a labrador chasing a stick on a beach comes across a divers head; sheriff and marine biologist are the two main characters and they have a night search out on the water similar to the one enjoyed by Brody and Hooper.

The film has the look of a home-grown project and the multitude of credits given to the co-directors Wayne Crawford and Harry Kerwin suggest this may be the case. Once it is clear the barracuda threat is only a plot device the films interest level begins to wane.

Whilst production values are poor 'Barracuda' is still fairly watchable and the characters are fleshed out to a reasonable degree ( particularly Lester, the fat useless Victor Buono-like deputy ). This is still as far below 'Piranha' as 'Piranha' was below 'Jaws' though, so while not quite a full-blown turkey its very close.