Recreation of the real-life events that unfolded over two weeks off the coast of New Jersey in 1916 when five people were attacked, four fatally by one or more sharks. Mostly faithful in its interpretation, dramatisation is understated and the sub-plots are inconspicuous which allows the film to focus on the extraordinary sequence of events. While "Jaws" may have drawn its inspiration from these events, it's surprising that it's taken almost ninety years to bring them more directly to celluloid. More sophisticated than its meagre TV budget, the attack scenes are well staged and photographed, and while the acting is sometimes stilted, the overall collective effort does make entertaining and compelling viewing.
A script writer couldn't have conceived a better tale; one, perhaps two rogue, apparently territorial sharks claim the lives of four bathers within a fortnight, with a fifth victim narrowly escaping death. Following a brace of fatalities in the surf, crusty sea captain (played here by the durable John Rhys Davies) witnesses the migration of a shark up the Matawan creek, but his penchant for the drink has most skeptical when he attempts to raise the alarm. Three more bathers fall foul, before the film diverts to the hunt for the killer, including the imbibing sea captain and an equally corpulent and eccentric out-of-town lion tamer and apparent jack of all trades.
Still an intensely curious case, "12 Days of Terror" builds the momentum effectively, with authentic looking location work and period set design. While the acting can seem forced at times, Rhys Davies and supporting actor Dexter (who bears more than a passing resemblance to Cary Elwes) restore some balance, giving measured performances, appropriate to the mood. Experienced director Jack Sholder has excelled with the limited resources at his disposal, and displays impressive regard for portraying fact and blended fiction to affect a motion picture, moreover than simply a docu-drama. Highly recommended.
