As Beth Mazza in 2011’s toothy horror Shark Night, Katharine McPhee got a little upset when she learned she was about to be force fed to a pool of cookie cutter sharks. There is nothing worse for a good tan line, huh?
Of course, this former American Idol contestant is, also, a celebrated pop singer and in that world the only thing that causes that much upset is…romance. Hence the title track of this talented lass’ new CD is Hysteria, describing the condition she finds herself in when confronted with a certain sexy someone whom she will never be able to fully possess. Sad – yet somehow dance worthy here.
While not nearly as hotly electric as her death in Kick-Ass 2, the unstoppable Yancy Butler has lent some charged pizzaz to such low budget animal-horror-oaters like Rage of the Yeti, Wolvesbayne and the Lake Placid series, of late.
Unfortunately, as the demented mistress of a madman who likes “to watch”, she is the most exciting thing about 2012’s Shark Week, The Asylum’s quick attempt to cash in on Shark Night’s mainstream release. Much of this aquanoid terror is spent watching a group of folks wander around an island (often not even in the water) trying to outwit a variety of murderous fin sporting creatures.
Naturally, the numerous attacks are created using bad CGI effects – often distorted by shaking camera work in a seeming attempt to overcome their obvious weaknesses.
Granted, with a super ridiculous shark-on-a-spear effect and a cat-fight between Butler’s Elena and Erin Coker’s victorious journalist, things do escalate a bit as the film heads into its final half hour.
Besides, what else are you going to be doing with your time? Studying Sharks-speare?
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
On occasion, Big Gay Horror Fan is so typically human – totally wanting what he obviously cannot have! Just look at me, daily, obsessing over all those cocky straight guys at the gym! Oh, well! At the very least, it’s an enjoyable torture.
Much like watching adorable Chris Zylka (Piranha 3DD, Kaboom, The Secret Circle) in his opening moments in 2011’s deliciously ridiculous Shark Night. As cocky model Blake, he flirts outrageously with an art student, fully exposing his toned buttocks to the camera. He even jiggles them, athletically, at one point, for the amused yet completely embarrassed object of his affection. He knows he’s hot. We know we could never have him. Still, it’s fun, all the same!
I believe this silly moment is socially significant on a weird level, though. Granted, as a filmic exercise, Shark Night, is bit confused. A PG-13 film about a variety of blood thirsty sharks gnawing on college kids can’t really go the visceral distance. The concept, though, would seemingly be a draw to young men expecting another breast laced Piranha rip-off. But, besides a brief side shot of Katherine McPhee removing her bra, Zylka’s is the only major nudity in the film (and is even repeated in an energetically, fun mock rap video featuring the cast at the end of credit scroll). Were the producers trying to appeal to a female (and gay audience), here? Is male nudity finally being given equal consideration in genre films? (I kind of doubt that one, but it’s interesting to consider.)Or did writers Will Hayes and Jesse Studenberg and director David Hayes simply feel it was a good character based introduction as Zylka’s character is a sexually confidant cock-of-the-walk who is constantly preening?
Whatever the answer, it is a significant moment for those in the know. (And, apparently, it was a memorable one, as well. It was often mentioned in on online reviews and articles on the film.)
Zylka was, also, significantly oft naked in Gregg Araki’s colorful Kaboom – as evidenced by the film’s trailer:
Big Gay Horror Fan 