Mako: The Jaws of Death (1976)

Director:

William Grefe

Writers:

William Grefe (story)
Robert W. Morgan (writer)

Release Date:

July 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Filmed without the benefit of cages or mechanical sharks to offer protection!

Plot:

A man accidentally learns that he has a mystical connection with sharks, and is given a strange medallion by a shaman. Becoming more and more alienated from normal society, he develops an ability to communicate with sharks telepathically, setting out to destroy anybody who harms sharks. People enter into his strange world to exploit his weird passion, and he uses the animals to gain revenge on anybody who double crosses him. |

Plot Keywords:

Shark | Animal | Revenge | Shark Attack | Murder

Cast

Richard Jaeckel	...	Sonny Stein
Jennifer Bishop	...	Karen
Buffy Dee	...	Barney
Harold Sakata	...	Pete
John Davis Chandler	...	Charlie
Ben Krokek	...	Whitney
Paul Preston	...	2nd Patrolman
Milton 'Butterball' Smith	...	Butter
Bob Gordon	...	Bartender
Jerry Albert	...	Mate
Richard O'Barry	...	1st Patrolman (as Ric O'Feldman)
Luke Halpin	...	3rd Patrolman
Dan Fitzgerald	...	Deputy
Bob Leslie	...	Client
Marcia Knight	...	Secretary

Also Known As:

Killer Jaws (Philippines: English title)
The Jaws of Death

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:18 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | USA:PG

Company:

Mako Associates

Quotes:

Karen: [Sonny suggests she swim with sharks like he does] You're not playing with a full deck!
Sonny Stein: Look, I'm not crazy if that's what you mean.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 6 (1999) (V)

bizarro Aquaman

the protagonist of this movie is very much like his near-sexual obsession - the shark - as it is described: a "misunderstood predator". Added to this, as a vengeful crusader for shark equality he's not only a murderous psychopath, he's also an unfriendly, arrogant man with a big ugly medallion and no sense of humor. In this film humans and sharks both live in competitive worlds where hunting is both the business and the pleasure. Don't expect anything edifying. The dialogue is histrionic and combative with a few genuine gems like: "You are a SICKIE! Get out of here you SHARK-LOVER!"

Indeed, it's implied that sharks replace women for our curiously masculine anti-hero - ("I wouldn't be surprised if them baby sharks come out lookin' just like him.") In the beginning, he sits at a bar and watches a sexy woman on stage, as the audience hoots and howls. Later, the girl is replaced by a shark...yes, It's a feeding frenzy of abysmal performances!

I would recommend this film for one reason alone - the soundtrack. There are some nice ambient grooves in here, and more than one scene has music similar to Pink Floyd circa 1969, with keyboards from 'More' or 'Ummagumma'...only this is easy listening music for creatures with walnut-sized brains.