MANEATER.

Ok. Let me ask YOU guys what you would think of this DVD? I get a screener DVD in the mail for a movie titled MANEATER from the (ironically enough) “Maneater Series” from Genius Entertainment. It features an angry looking tiger on the front cover with blood in his teeth… and it stars… Gary Busey.

Don’t get me wrong! I love, love, LOVE Gary Busey. THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY and SILVER BULLET are two of my personal all-time faves! But the last thing I saw Busey in was Full Moon’s THE GINGERDEAD MAN and Charles Band spent a year on the road confessing at conventions that Busey would insist on doing every single one of his lines separately!? So, immediately I’m wondering a number of things. How many days did Busey actually show up to be the featured star of MANEATER? And this front cover drawing is actually… impressive! It’s not a lame photoshop job, so… is the tiger really bad CGI? And if so, how bad?! I couldn’t resist. I threw it on immediately.

A quick google search later confirmed that this was actually a SCI-FI Channel debut. And despite everything I’ve just mentioned… this movie ain’t bad!

The production value is far higher then what you’re used to seeing from SCI-I Channel stuff, the acting is actually decent, Busey is IN the movie for the majority of it, and they use a real freakin’ tiger! No CGI whatsoever!

Ok, let’s talk plot. The film centers on 12 foot Bengal tiger that’s inhabiting the Appalachian Mountains and it’s neighboring county. Busey plays Sheriff Grady, who’s convinced there’s a problem of epic proportions brewing in his little town when several members of the community turn up mauled and in pieces in the woods. Rather then cancel the upcoming town fare, the mayor wants to keep things quiet and proceed with the festivities. We also meet a young boy named Roy who lives in a trailer in the woods with his religious fanatical mother, and who makes up imaginary animals to play with. (I know. It is scary! Especially fanatically religious mothers!) He’s the only one that sometimes crosses paths with the tiger, yet seems not see it as a threat. Halfway through the movie, we’re introduced to the most welcome addition, Colonel Jim Graham (played by Ian D. Clark), a British hunter who’s rolled into town to take out the tiger. (And sling fun dialogue back and forth with Busey, including his usual entrance greeting “Cheer-i-o!”

Is this plot sounding familiar yet? Yes, this is pretty much JAWS with a tiger and in the woods rather then the water. But at least this movie follows the simple logistic rules that made JAWS so effective. We rarely see the tiger. (And when we do, it IS an actual tiger.) The attacks are quick and usually from the perspective of the beast. And while it’s not gory, we mostly get to see the aftermath of most of the attacks which are grisly. It’s enough to keep us interested in what will happen next. And hell, Busey, crazy as he is, is actually decent in this! Between him and Ian D. Clark, I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. (Love British folk!)

Bottom line, this isn’t new, original or even great. But it’s really good, and the type of movie that I’d catch somewhere in the middle on TV and watch through until the end. It was engaging enough that it held my attention the entire time (which isn’t always the case with movies of this sort!), and I stuck with it in one sitting. Mike C would love this. So, I recommend it. (To him and you fiends!)

No features on this disc besides trailers for more features from the “Maneater” DVD series, including some spider movie with Lance Henriksen! I actually just got that one for review too, so it’s next in my queue! –Robg.

Buy it on Amazon.com!