If there’s one gore-soaked horror movie from the past year that can also be described as hilarious, it’s Alexandre Aja’s 2010 remake of the 1978 film Piranha. Aja’s previous work, the French thriller High Tension and a reimagining of The Hills Have Eyes, have plumbed some incredibly crimson depths of sexual violence—to a level that isn't much fun to watch, just more like being beaten over the head repeatedly with disturbing images.
For Piranha, Aja took 3D technology and made the best 1980s summer slasher movie that he could. The premise is simple: an earthquake opens up a prehistoric cave at the bottom of Lake Victoria, Arizona, and out pour the hungry fish, just in time for spring break. Elizabeth Shue stars as the town sheriff who must keep order as the fish devour bikini-clad women and bronzed frat boys alike. She's joined in her fruitless efforts by Jerry McDonnell, Ving Rhames, and Christopher Lloyd. And to make this screening even more special, it's an installment of Doug Henson's Movie Interruption, where Mr. Henson and friends engage in Mystery Science Theatre 3000-style commentary while the movie plays— o you'll get extra running commentary to go with all that flesh-chewing mayhem.
Piranha (2010)
Sunday, July 31
8 p.m.
Cinefamily
611 N Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles
Tickets $12
