Shark in Venice

Plot

The film takes place in Venice, where David Franks (Baldwin) and girlfriend Laura (Johansson) are meeting with Venetian police to learn more about the mysterious disappearance of Davids father. During the boatride to where they think Davids father may have last been seen, David sees the dorsal fin of a large shark. In a double-take he looks back and the fin is gone. David and another man (Rossi) enter the canals wearing wetsuits and scuba gear. A large shark preys on the two and in a sudden attack the Italian man is eaten. David is bitten in the shoulder but manages to escape to a cave.

In the cave, David narrowly escapes several close calls with contraptions recalling those in the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark; the film also borrows quite liberally from the plot of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He then emerges on a large room in the cave which holds vast amounts of treasure. David stares in wonder at it, pockets a gold and emerald brooch and returns to Laura in the boat. The next scene shows him recuperating in a hospital bed with Laura by his side.

David and Laura are asked to meet and have dinner with business-man Vito Clemenza (Giacomo Gonnella). Clemenza produces the brooch David had taken from the treasure room and asks David to return to the cave. As unsuspecting tourists are devoured, David contemplates his next move. Before too long Laura is kidnapped by Clemenzas Mafia goons. David decides to try to save her with the help of the Venetian police. Ultimately, David defeats the Mafia, saves Laura and finds the treasure, which his father had died searching for. Clemenza is killed by one of the sharks when he falls in the water while fighting David.

It is unclear whether it is a scientific phenomenon leading to the gradual increase in the temperature of the Grand Canal and the presence of at least one Great white shark taking up residence in the city of Venice. Later in the film Clemenza appears to tell David that he is the one who has introduced the sharks to the waterways.

Cast

Production

The film was shot on location in Bulgaria. In fact, the director intended to name the movie Shark in Bulgaria, however, it would not have had the same "flow" as if the movie were titled Shark in Venice.

Soundtrack

The score was composed by Stephen Edwards and produced by Source in sync.

Release

The film was released on 14 December 2008 in the United States as Sharks in Venice and on 6 August 2009 at DVD as Der weise Hai von Venedig in Germany.

The reviews by critics were mostly negative.