Chris Zylka in "Shark Night"; photo courtesy of Relativity Media

“Shark Night” is a relatively engrossing movie. It has a plot that makes sense, some truly tense and scary moments with the sharks of the title, and a cast that draws your attention. It is also one of the most sadistic movies I have seen in a while, especially in light of the fact it is rated PG-13. Don’t know how that one slipped by the Board but it definitely should have been rated R.

The movie concerns seven Tulane University students who spend the weekend on the Louisiana backwater at the home of Sara’s (Sara Paxton) family. Included in the group are soon to be engaged couple Malik (Sinqua Walls) and Maya (Alyssa Diaz); best buddies Nick (Dustin Milligan), Gordon (Joel David Moore) and Blake (Chris Zylka); and free spirit Beth (Katherine McPhee). They are all looking forward to a weekend of swimming and sunning. 

The only problem is there is a shark or sharks in the water around the family’s home. The young people find this out shortly after Sara tells them there is very limited cell phone service out there. Soon one of them has been attacked by a shark and it all goes downhill fast.

One of the plusses of the film is that there is a logical reason why the sharks are in the water, and it isn’t the reason you think it will be. There is also a reason why these young people might be supper for the sharks and it isn’t the reason you think it is. There are innumerable twists and turns in the plot and each one is more outrageous than the other.

Paxton is good as the quiet young woman whose old boyfriend (Chris Carmack) shows up uninvited to the party. He is accompanied by a troublemaker named Red (Joshua Leonard). These two guys add a little flavor to the mix.

It is also good to see American Idol runner-up Katherine McPhee in the movie. She makes her presence known even if she doesn’t have the biggest role in the movie. McPhee has stayed in the public eye and her new TV series “Smash,” that starts in January, might make her an even bigger star.

The film is rated PG-13 for profanity, nudity and violence. Since there are several scenes which are quite sadistic the R rating would have been more appropriate.

“Shark Night” is not a film as entertaining as “Jaws” but it does have some unique touches. And those mechanical sharks have come a long way since “Jaws’” Bruce. This time out they look and act the part.

I scored “Shark Night” a sharp toothed 5 out of 10.