Sharknado Heart of Sharkness ( 2015 )

Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! A Deep Dive into 'Sharknado 3: Heart of Sharkness'

2015's 'Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!' (hereafter referred to as 'Sharknado 3' or the 'film') marks the third installment in the improbably popular 'Sharknado' franchise. Building upon the ludicrous premise of its predecessors, this film takes the shark-infested storm system to new heights of absurdity, expanding the geographic scope of the chaos and escalating the celebrity cameos to unprecedented levels. While critically lambasted, 'Sharknado 3' cemented the franchise's status as a cultural phenomenon, embracing its B-movie roots and reveling in its over-the-top spectacle. This article will dissect the film's plot, analyze its themes (or lack thereof), examine its impact on popular culture, and ultimately, attempt to understand the enduring appeal of a movie where sharks fall from the sky.

Plot Summary: Sharknados Across America (and Space!)

The film opens with Fin Shepard (Ian Ziering) receiving a presidential medal of freedom for his heroic efforts in dealing with the previous sharknado events. During the ceremony in Washington D.C., a new sharknado threatens the nation's capital. Fin, with the help of his ex-wife April Wexler (Tara Reid), who is now pregnant, and Nova Clarke (Cassie Scerbo), a sharknado expert, must once again battle the swirling vortexes of teeth and terror.

The sharknado intensifies and begins to travel down the East Coast, devastating major cities like Washington D.C. and Orlando. April, Fin, and Nova hop from location to location, encountering new characters and facing increasingly bizarre scenarios. At Universal Studios Orlando, they battle sharks alongside Universal's mascots. They seek the assistance of Fin's father, Colonel Gilbert Grayson Shepard (David Hasselhoff), an astronaut, to find a solution to the sharknado phenomenon.

The climax of the film sees the sharknado reaching Florida, where it threatens the Kennedy Space Center. Colonel Shepard, aboard a space shuttle, attempts to destroy the sharknados from orbit using a laser weapon. While successful in initially dispersing the storms, the explosion also results in sharks being ejected into space. April is tragically caught in debris during the final confrontation, leading to a cliffhanger ending where viewers were asked to vote via Twitter on whether she should live or die (a gimmick that exemplified the film's self-aware absurdity).

Characters: Familiar Faces and a Galaxy of Cameos

'Sharknado 3' features the return of several core characters, alongside a dizzying array of celebrity cameos, often playing caricatured versions of themselves. The main characters are:

• Fin Shepard (Ian Ziering): The stalwart hero, perpetually fighting sharknados and saving the day with his chainsaw.
• April Wexler (Tara Reid): Fin's ex-wife and mother of his child, constantly finding herself in the path of danger.
• Nova Clarke (Cassie Scerbo): The dedicated sharknado hunter, providing expert knowledge and combat skills.
• Colonel Gilbert Grayson Shepard (David Hasselhoff): Fin's estranged father and an astronaut, adding a new dimension to the sharknado fighting force.

Beyond these central figures, 'Sharknado 3' boasts a staggering number of cameos, ranging from actors and musicians to athletes and media personalities. Some notable cameos include:

• Frankie Muniz
• Bo Derek
• Penn & Teller
• Lou Ferrigno
• Anthony Weiner (in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance)
• Michele Bachmann

These cameos, often brief and often playing on the public perception of the celebrity, contribute to the film's overall comedic tone and self-aware absurdity. They are less about acting and more about lending their name and recognizable face to the bizarre spectacle.

Themes (or Lack Thereof): Embracing the Absurdity

To suggest that 'Sharknado 3' possesses profound thematic depth would be a gross misrepresentation. The film operates almost entirely on the level of pure spectacle and comedic absurdity. However, some recurring threads, however thin, can be identified:

• Family and Resilience: Despite the constant threat of sharknados, Fin remains dedicated to protecting his family and loved ones. The film, in its own warped way, emphasizes the importance of sticking together in the face of adversity.
• American Patriotism: The film features overtly patriotic imagery, particularly in the opening sequence in Washington D.C. and the climax at the Kennedy Space Center. Fin is portrayed as a quintessential American hero, fighting to protect his country from an unnatural threat.
• Environmental Disaster (Played for Laughs): While never explicitly stated, the sharknados themselves can be seen as a metaphor for environmental disasters, albeit one taken to its most extreme and ridiculous conclusion. However, the film never seriously engages with the environmental themes, preferring to mine the situation for comedic potential.

Ultimately, 'Sharknado 3' is not a film to be analyzed for its deep meaning. Its primary purpose is to entertain and amuse through its sheer absurdity. The themes are more window dressing than genuine points of exploration.

Special Effects: Deliberately Terrible

The special effects in 'Sharknado 3' are, to put it mildly, atrocious. The CGI sharks are cartoonish, the explosions are unconvincing, and the overall visual aesthetic is low-budget and intentionally cheesy. This is not a flaw, but rather a deliberate aesthetic choice that contributes to the film's overall appeal. The bad special effects are part of the joke, enhancing the film's sense of self-aware ridiculousness. The filmmakers clearly understand that audiences are not watching 'Sharknado' for realistic visuals; they are watching it for the sheer spectacle of sharks falling from the sky in the most implausible ways possible.

Reception and Impact: So Bad It's Good

Unsurprisingly, 'Sharknado 3' was almost universally panned by critics. Reviewers criticized the film's nonsensical plot, terrible acting, and awful special effects. However, despite the negative reviews, 'Sharknado 3' was a ratings success for Syfy, drawing a significant audience. The film's enduring popularity can be attributed to several factors:

• The So Bad It's Good Factor: 'Sharknado 3' embraces its low-budget origins and intentionally bad qualities, creating a viewing experience that is both amusing and strangely compelling.
• Celebrity Cameos: The film's extensive use of celebrity cameos generates media buzz and attracts viewers curious to see their favorite stars participate in the absurdity.
• Social Media Engagement: The 'Sharknado' franchise has always been heavily reliant on social media, encouraging viewers to live-tweet their reactions and engage with the film in real-time. The vote on April's fate gimmick in 'Sharknado 3' further amplified this social media engagement.
• The Unpredictability Factor: Audiences tune in to see what outrageous scenarios and unexpected cameos the filmmakers will come up with next. The sheer unpredictability of the 'Sharknado' universe is part of its charm.

The 'Sharknado' franchise, in general, has carved out a unique niche in popular culture. It represents a rejection of high-brow cinema and an embrace of pure, unadulterated entertainment. The films are not meant to be taken seriously; they are meant to be enjoyed ironically, with a group of friends, and a healthy dose of alcohol.

Analysis of Key Scenes

Certain scenes within 'Sharknado 3' stand out for their sheer outlandishness and comedic value. Here's a brief analysis of some key moments:

• The Opening Medal Ceremony: The juxtaposition of a formal presidential ceremony with the sudden arrival of a sharknado immediately establishes the film's comedic tone. The scene sets the stage for the escalating absurdity to come.
• Universal Studios Orlando: The sequence at Universal Studios is a prime example of product placement gone wild. The characters battling sharks alongside Universal's mascots is both ridiculous and undeniably entertaining.
• The Space Shuttle Climax: The climax involving Colonel Shepard in space fighting sharknados with a laser weapon is the epitome of over-the-top action. The image of sharks floating in space is both absurd and strangely iconic.
• April's Ambiguous Ending: The cliffhanger ending where viewers were asked to vote on April's fate is a perfect example of the film's meta-commentary and social media engagement.

Comparison to Previous Films

While all 'Sharknado' films share a common premise, 'Sharknado 3' distinguishes itself from its predecessors in several ways:

• Expanded Geographic Scope: The film expands the geographic range of the sharknado chaos, moving from Los Angeles and New York to the entire East Coast and even outer space.
• Increased Celebrity Cameos: 'Sharknado 3' features a significantly larger number of celebrity cameos than the previous films, further amplifying its comedic appeal.
• More Over-the-Top Action: The action sequences in 'Sharknado 3' are even more outlandish and implausible than those in the previous films, pushing the boundaries of absurdity to new heights.
• Meta-Commentary: 'Sharknado 3' incorporates a greater degree of meta-commentary, with characters making references to the previous films and acknowledging the absurdity of their situation.

The film takes what worked in the first two films and cranks it up to eleven.

Table: Character Analysis

Table: Cameo Appearances

Table: Sharknado Events in the Film

Conclusion: A Triumph of the Absurd

'Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!' is not a cinematic masterpiece. It is a deliberately terrible movie that embraces its own absurdity with gleeful abandon. The film's nonsensical plot, awful special effects, and over-the-top action are all part of the joke. 'Sharknado 3' succeeds because it understands its audience and delivers exactly what they expect: a ridiculous, entertaining, and utterly unforgettable experience. It’s a testament to the power of embracing low-budget filmmaking and finding humor in the most unexpected places. The Sharknado franchise proves that sometimes, the best movies are the ones that don't take themselves too seriously.