Running Time: 70 Minutes
Starring: Ellen Mildred Brown, Elle Attson, Chance Kelly, Grayson Kelly, Trevor Payer, Jody Hauke, Thea Nikolic, Chad Wallis
Across his filmography, writer/director Brett Kelly has built a packed career across low-budget features with intriguing premises. He often returns to delivering the kind of shark films that once populated Asda's DVD section, and now are destined to be found on Tubi for curious viewers. With a filmography that includes Jurassic Shark, Ouija Shark, and Raiders of the Lost Shark, Kelly brings audiences the attention-grabbing title of Kaiju Glam Metal Shark Attack.
The film opens with rock music playing as a rocket blasts off into space, although something unusual happens which results in connection being lost from the satellite, resulting in the object falling to Earth. At this time, a man is fishing while listening to loud rock music. As he becomes determined to find something that he can eat that night, the satellite crashes into him at the same time that a shark circles underneath. The convoluted circumstances result in the creation of a Kaiju shark man that has a love for glam rock music.
If you were drawn to this film, there is a good chance it was because of the film's title. It would not be surprising if the film was created title first, and this feels all the more true after watching the ensuing 70-minute feature. It feels like the ideas were secondary to the attention-grabbing title, as the result often takes a convoluted journey to reach its destination, something backed up by the titular figure's creation.
What one cannot avoid is how low-budget this film is. Whether it is the sound design, camera work, visual effects, or even the backgrounds, it all feels like this has been brought together with community spirit and a charming unity that endeavours to make the best possible work. Such a feeling is rather charming to behold, particularly with such naff effects realised on-screen, but one does wish that the efforts resulted in something of a stronger quality.
This is particularly true of the characters, as there are too many figures on-screen for any of them to resonate. An overstuffed group bringing alive underdeveloped characters, courtesy of acting so hammy that vegetarians may wish to avoid this film. The sad thing is that, despite the short running time, this is a story that runs out of steam early on. Perhaps it is an idea that would have better suited a short film, because the ensuing feature just feels like a bore and a chore.
At its heart, this is a work that has an unashamed love for rock music, even as it pauses the final act to showcase a musical performance. Kelly eagerly showcases the positive impact this genre of music can have, and how it eclipses the destructive forces of the military. It is a nice idea at the centre of this work, and one wishes that Kaiju Glam Metal Shark Attack had more to recommend outside of that.
Kaiju Glam Metal Shark Attack was the surprise film at SoHome Horror Festival 2025
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