Piranha

A swarm of prehistoric piranhas, accidentally released into a mountain lake, begins to terrorize a summer resort. A drunken private investigator and a local schoolteacher must race against time to warn the vacationers and find a way to stop the relentless aquatic predators before they reach the ocean.

Joe Dante's Piranha is a cult classic that satirizes the 'nature run amok' horror subgenre popularized by Jaws. It's praised for its dark humor, gore effects, and sharp social commentary, even while acknowledging its low-budget origins.

• A clever and often gory satire on the exploitation horror genre.
• Features a fun cast and effective, if low-budget, special effects.
• Balances genuine scares with a witty, self-aware sense of humor.

Google audience: Viewers generally appreciate Piranha for its blend of horror and dark comedy, with many highlighting its effectiveness as an enjoyable B-movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. Some critics note its dated effects but praise its entertaining pacing and sharp satire.

The film's tagline, 'They're hungry... and they're swimming ashore!', was a direct parody of the tagline for the 1975 film Jaws: 'They're here... and they're hungry!'