Snakehead Terror is a 2003 science-fiction horror made-for-television film directed by Paul Ziller (The Sea Beast; Yeti: Curse of the Snow Demon; Swarmed; Pledge Night; et al) from a screenplay written by Anthony L. Greene (Gargoyle), based on a story by Patrick J. Vitale. The movie stars Bruce Boxleitner, Carol Alt (Swarmed), Chelan Simmons and Juliana Wimbles.
This is one of two Syfy Channel films based on the snakehead fish incident in a Crofton, Maryland pond, the other being Frankenfish.
Plot:
A small town, desperate to recover from hard economic times, is under threat when the voracious snakehead fish mutate, surviving previous chemical attacks. The fish transform from pests to predators when human growth hormones are dumped into the local lake in the hopes of reviving the local fishing industry.
Thriving on the hormones, the snakehead fish grow to monstrous proportions, devouring everything within reach. Capable of moving and eating on land, they are forced to leave the now barren lake in a desperate search for food – animal, vegetable or human. In a race against time, the local Sheriff and biologist Lori Dale, try to save the Sheriff’s teenage daughter and her friends, along with the town itself, from being eaten alive…
Reviews:
“Okay so the acting is going to win no awards […] and neither is the directing, cinematography or any other film disciplines you could care to mention as that’s not the kind of film this is. What you do get is an enjoyable B-movie romp through the old eco-horror rulebook, with minimal CGI, plenty of latex monsters and a few high-octane set-pieces.” Eat My Brains
“What’s nice though is that the snakeheads crawl around the woods and eat people. They even get a guy in his house. They’re usually cool rubber puppets – a welcome change from CGI, although there’s some of that too. Plenty of the puppets get shotgunned which is great fun.” Gorillanaut
” …ticks all of the necessary ‘monster on the loose’ boxes and runs like clockwork. But there’s something fresh about it and I believe it’s simply down to the snakeheads themselves. They are nasty pieces of work which are made all the more deadly through a series of gory moments. One of the Sci-Fi Channels better films.” Popcorn Pictures
“The only difference between this flick and the myriad of others you see on Sci-Fi is that the monsters in this one are amphibious so they can stalk their prey in the water and on land. That means that not only do we get plenty of Jaws style attack scenes, but also a Night of the Living Fish ending as well.” The Video Vacuum
Cast and characters:
- Alistair Abell … Sammy
- Doug Abrahams … Deputy Clark
- Carol Alt … Lori Dale
- Bruce Boxleitner … Patrick James – Legion of the Dead
- Juliana Wimbles … Jagger
- Brenda Campbell … Reporter
- Gardiner Millar … Hunter 1
- William B. Davis … Doc Jenkins
- Bro Gilbert … Deputy Reece
- P. Lynn Johnson … Norma
- Gary Jones … Colin Jenkins
- Chad Krowchuk … Craig
- Matthew MacCaull … James
- Don MacKay … Ray Wilkens
- Ryan McDonell … Luke
- Darren Moore … Zeke
- Chelan Simmons … Amber James
- Manoj Sood … Raj
- Sylvesta Stuart … Hunter 2
- Scott Swanson … Mayor Cole
Filming locations:
Cultus Lake, British Columbia
Release:
First shown in March 2004
