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Los Angeles - It's a future cult classic, the movie on everyone's lips – for all the wrong reasons.
Sharknado, a made-for-TV B-grade horror disaster movie has premiered in the US on Thursday and instantly became a viral sensation with its outrageous storyline about a shark-infested tornado that sweeps through Los Angeles.
The Sharknado trailer, which landed just days before the movie was set to make its TV debut on the Syfy channel in the US, has gone viral with its entertaining blend of clunky dialogue, amateur special effects and even more amateur acting, from a number of former stars such as Tara Reid (American Pie) and Beverly Hills 90210 alum Ian Ziering.
And then there's the sharks. In tornadoes.
But director Anthony C Ferrante says he is thrilled with the way the movie has exploded online and connected with viewers in a way that belies the movie's low budget and almost-zero marketing spend.
"Sharks do well and disasters do well. Put them together, and you get something out of it," he told BuzzFeed on Thursday night as he was heading to a viewing party for the film, where he also live-tweeted the screening.
'Some people think it's the worst movie ever'
"I know that what just happened is, like, one in a billion, in terms of this weird confluence of things," he said. "There wasn't a marketing budget on this thing. It was all just the stuff we did with the trailers and just telling people about it and stuff."
Ferrante has been eager to embrace both the praise and waves of mockery that has been levelled at his new film, which features lines like, "They took my grandfather. So I really hate sharks", and shows a chainsaw-wielding actor leap into the snarling mouth of an oncoming Great White.
"There are people knocking it, but I've never seen people defending a movie like this either," Ferrante told Buzzfeed. "Some people think it's the worst movie ever, others are like, 'Oh, this is fun!' I appreciate that people got that we wanted to make a fun movie."
The movie became a social media media sensation during its screening, with Twitter reactions from a diverse group of Hollywood heavyweights such as Olivia Wilde, Star Trek/Lost screenwriter Damon Lindelof – who offered to write the sequel, actress Mia Farrow, Star Trek: The Next Generation star Wil Wheaton and The Office star B.J. Novak.
A sequel is very much on Ferrante's mind. "No one's called me yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it would be on its way soon," he said.
Unfortunately, there are no indications yet when Sharknado will be aired in South Africa.
Watch the incredible Sharknado trailer here.
Sharknado, a made-for-TV B-grade horror disaster movie has premiered in the US on Thursday and instantly became a viral sensation with its outrageous storyline about a shark-infested tornado that sweeps through Los Angeles.
The Sharknado trailer, which landed just days before the movie was set to make its TV debut on the Syfy channel in the US, has gone viral with its entertaining blend of clunky dialogue, amateur special effects and even more amateur acting, from a number of former stars such as Tara Reid (American Pie) and Beverly Hills 90210 alum Ian Ziering.
And then there's the sharks. In tornadoes.
But director Anthony C Ferrante says he is thrilled with the way the movie has exploded online and connected with viewers in a way that belies the movie's low budget and almost-zero marketing spend.
"Sharks do well and disasters do well. Put them together, and you get something out of it," he told BuzzFeed on Thursday night as he was heading to a viewing party for the film, where he also live-tweeted the screening.
'Some people think it's the worst movie ever'
"I know that what just happened is, like, one in a billion, in terms of this weird confluence of things," he said. "There wasn't a marketing budget on this thing. It was all just the stuff we did with the trailers and just telling people about it and stuff."
Ferrante has been eager to embrace both the praise and waves of mockery that has been levelled at his new film, which features lines like, "They took my grandfather. So I really hate sharks", and shows a chainsaw-wielding actor leap into the snarling mouth of an oncoming Great White.
"There are people knocking it, but I've never seen people defending a movie like this either," Ferrante told Buzzfeed. "Some people think it's the worst movie ever, others are like, 'Oh, this is fun!' I appreciate that people got that we wanted to make a fun movie."
#SHARKNADO i have never been part of something this crazy ... the whole world is watching my insane little movie and talking about it ...
— Anthony C. Ferrante (@acferrante) July 12, 2013
The movie became a social media media sensation during its screening, with Twitter reactions from a diverse group of Hollywood heavyweights such as Olivia Wilde, Star Trek/Lost screenwriter Damon Lindelof – who offered to write the sequel, actress Mia Farrow, Star Trek: The Next Generation star Wil Wheaton and The Office star B.J. Novak.
A sequel is very much on Ferrante's mind. "No one's called me yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it would be on its way soon," he said.
Unfortunately, there are no indications yet when Sharknado will be aired in South Africa.
Watch the incredible Sharknado trailer here.
