Recently remade with Piranha (2010) and its sequel Piranha 3DD (2012) both awful movies, Second Sight in the UK has released the Joe Dante directed original onto Blu Ray.
Two teenagers going for a dip inadvertently stumble upon a government secret weapon huge swarms of deadly piranha fish, planned for use in Vietnam. Accidentally released, the piranha make their way to the site of a children’s summer camp resort, and the terror in the water begins.
Low budget horror produced by Roger Corman to cash in on the success of Jaws this is a lot of fun, well directed at a breakneck pace by Joe Dante who went on to greater things with movies such as Gremlins. Bradford Dillman is excellent as the guy with a drinking problem who is dragged in to help find the missing teenagers and ends up trying to save a summer camp from disaster. Well supported by Heather Menzies and Kevin McCarthy as the scientist who started the research into deadly fish. Also look out for Joe Dante regular Dick Miller as the summer park owner. Piranha is a low budget 1970’s treat which has stood the test of time well. Even the low budget special effect work, because they are not shown too often just brief glimpses and quick cuts make it all the more believable.
The Blu ray by Second sight has a very good 1080P transfer. Being a low budget effort detail is great, grain is there making it look very film like. The sound is clear and precise, the eerie sound the Piranha make when attacking especially stands out.
A good selection of extras are offered including a great and informative audio commentary from director Dante and the producer, Behind the scenes footage shot at the time, a good making-of documentary and trailers.
Piranha is good low budget horror fun and another fabulous release from Second Sight.
FILM: 7 OUT OF 10
PICTURE : 7 OUT OF 10
SOUND: 6 OUT OF 10
EXTRAS: 7 OUT OF 10
