Name: Santa Jaws Released 5 Years Ago, But It's Cool And You Should Watch It - Mother of Movies
Director: Misty Talley
Released: 2008-08-14T19:16:00

Sometimes, the most refreshing films are the ones you watch on a whim. Santa Jaws qualifies as a “so bad, it’s good” movie. Its sparing use of CGI and tame practical effects are worth noting. However, it’s the well-crafted dialogue, on-cue gags, and thoughtful narrative that elevate this film. Santa Jaws successfully moves from being laughed at for its banality to being genuinely funny. This Christmas horror movie ticks all the right boxes, with all the classic tropes, an astonishingly small amount of blood spatter across 14 death scenes, and characters that are truly enjoyable to watch.

Its director Misty Talley has plenty of experience with shark movies. She has amassed an impressive list of sharkslpoitation fare including “Mississippi River Sharks”, “Ozark Sharks” and “Shark Island.”

As for the writer, Jake Kiernan, this is his only narrative as far as I can tell.

Drawing parallels to”It’s a Wonderful Life” Cody is seen wishing he could be alone at Christmas.

Cody is a comic book artist and he’s all hyped up about Christmas. As the film opens we are introduced to his drawing process as he imagines the following scene while creating a comic book called “Santa Jaws.” He also happens to be using a very special pen that’s supposed to be magic.

Santa Jaws Horror Review

As he imagines the ensuing action, the audience is transported into his thoughts where a rather stodgy-looking scene is laid out at a marina. There’s the distinct possibility that this is the point where many cinephiles have bailed. I found it all rather over the top enough to work and a Bad Santa holds a young girl hostage. She is tied to a pylon as a man appears to rescue her. The stage is set for a lamens damsel in distress play-by-play. The one-liners included as the two trade insults and blows just keep coming. There were so many of them that it was like a tirade of dad jokes but with the theme of sharks.

After this, his parents, Peter and Caroline, put him on lockdown after finding his cartoons and deeming them inappropriate. The next morning, on Christmas Eve, Cody hangs at the local marina with his grandpa Joe, and then BAM! A shark comes out of nowhere and eats poor ol’ Joe. Talk about a wild start to the holidays!

“No sugar cookies for you, you’re gonna eat your words.”
Quote from the movie, Santa Jaws.

There are plenty of other shark movie nods scattered throughout the title channelling films like Jaws and probably 20 odd B-movie shark horror comedies I’ve never heard of.

What Would You Wish For?

The resulting carnage is that there is none. A shark fin appears wearing a Santa hat. The first two kills happen quickly and the stage is established. Some of the kill scenes are creative and hilarious, however in most examples, people disappear under the surface. There isn’t even the stock standard bubbling of red-colored water. They’re just gone.

Cody soon realized that his shark was causing all the trouble, the one from his comic. Santa Jaws wants to kill everyone he knows. Additionally, this shark also will take out any person being Christmassy too. Cody gathers his friends along with a girl from school he likes and sets out to save Christmas.

If you’re not the type of person who goes for a cheesy horror comedy, there are parts of Santa Jaws that will make you cringe. No one recommending this cinematic experience is promising a perfect ten. There is a comic book store owner who steals the pen part way through and creates himself a girlfriend who can’t speak English, a classic car, and loads of cash. Even though filmmakers were taking liberties with popular shark movie trends, it would have been nice not to continue perpetuating the stereotype and upping the ante here. Despite being an unnecessary subplot, I liked that this idea was included to show the limits of the power in play.

The finer details included in this fun and silly at times shark horror comedy gently push the weaker elements into a worthy spot as a new Christmas horror movie favorite. With low levels of violence and gore, little screaming, and plenty of in-jokes, you could do worse than watching Santa Jaws during your own Christmas celebration.

Santa Jaws is rated

3.5 Christmas cult hit horror movies out of 5

Santa Jaws 2, is There a Sequel?

The cast of Santa Jaws includes Reid Miller, Courtney Lauren Cummings, Jim Klock, Carrie Lazar, Arthur Marroquin, and, Miles Doleac. If you’re looking for a Santa Jaws 2, plenty of people are talking about it, but sadly, no one is making it yet. Itching for another shark movie? Watch The Last Breath 2024, next.