Watch Bait
- R
- 2012
- 1 hr 31 min
-
5.2 (20,005)
Bait is a thrilling disaster movie that showcases the terror and danger of what happens when a tsunami hits a coastal town. The movie follows a group of people who are trapped in a flooded underground supermarket, trying to fight off aggressive and hungry sharks that have been washed in by the tsunami. The film takes place in a small coastal town in Australia, where a group of workers is closing up a supermarket for the night. As they finish, a tsunami hits the town, flooding the entire area and trapping the workers and a handful of customers in the underground parking garage of the supermarket. As the group tries to find a way out, they discover the danger lurking just beneath the surface of the water. The tsunami has brought with it a pack of vicious and hungry great white sharks.
The ensemble cast is led by Xavier Samuel and Sharni Vinson, playing Josh and Tina, respectively. They are two ex-lovers who are forced to put aside their differences to survive. While Josh and Tina are the main characters, Bait also features a number of other characters with their own personal struggles that come to light in the face of danger.
Adrian Pang plays the supermarket owner, Doyle, who roughs up his employees and argues with his wife in the film's early scenes. Among the other characters trapped in the garage are Ryan (Alex Russell) and his girlfriend, Jaime (Phoebe Tonkin), an estranged couple struggling to reconcile; Kyle (Lincoln Lewis), a loveable but clueless surfer dude; and Jess (Cariba Heine) and her younger sister, who are on the run from the law.
The film's plot takes the form of a disaster movie, with the tension and stakes picking up as the group descends deeper into the flooded garage. As the water level rises, the sharks become more and more of a threat, attacking any humans they come in contact with. Director Kimble Rendall delivers multiple tense and well-executed setpieces, including a scene where one of the survivors tries to draw away a shark with a flashlight.
One of the main themes of the movie is the idea of people coming together in a time of crisis. While many of the characters are at odds with each other at the start of the story, the dire situation forces them to band together and work toward a common goal. The film also touches on the idea of second chances, with characters using the shark attack as a way to reset their lives and forge new paths.
The film's visual effects deserve special praise. The underwater scenes are executed with a stunning degree of realism, with the sharks seamlessly integrating into the environment. The practical effects, such as the wounds on the characters caused by the shark bites, are also realistic and convincing.
One of the film's only drawbacks is that some of the characters feel underdeveloped. While the central characters get plenty of screen time, others are mostly there to provide fodder for the sharks. This is a common problem in ensemble disaster movies, and Bait is no exception.
Overall, Bait is an intense and well-executed disaster movie that makes great use of its high-concept premise. The film's themes of redemption and survival make it an engaging watch, while its impressive visual effects create a sense of immersion that draws the viewer in. With strong performances and nail-biting tension throughout, Bait is a must-see for fans of the genre.
Bait is a 2012 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.