Piranha II: The Spawning (1982)

Directed by James Cameron. Starring Tricia O’Neil, Steve Marachuk, Lance Henriksen, Ricky G. Paull, Ted Richert, Albert Sanders, Leslie Graves, Ward White, Ancile Gloudon, Tracy Berg, Anne Pollack, Lee Krug. [R]

Bottom-of-the-barrel horror cheapie, an in-name-only sequel to the Roger Corman-Joe Dante cult movie, set at a Club Med-type resort in the Caribbean as horny tourists and staff members become fish food for a bunch of genetically-enhanced flying piranha (sure, whatever). The dialogue is terrible, the pace is monotonous, the scenery above and under the water is nothing special, and the killer fish effects are embarrassing; plus, there are way too many boring stretches for it to have any worthwhile camp value. Of note strictly for being the directorial debut of James Cameron, who was fired midway through production and (understandably) disowned the film. Credited screenwriter H. A. Milton is a “package pseudonym” for Cameron, Charles H. Eglee, and executive producer Ovidio G. Assonitis. Also known as: Piranha II: Flying Killers.

10/100