Movie Review: Thrash (2026)

Thrash (2026) written and directed by Tommy Wirkola

A massive hurricane is about to hit the Atlantic coast town of Annieville. Most people evacuate but the story naturally follows those who stay (or are caught) behind. Dakota (Whitney Peak) lost her mom a couple of months ago and is living an agoraphobic life so she doesn't make it out. Her uncle Dr. Dale Edwards (Djimon Hounsou) is a shark expert working north of the storm and sets out to rescue her with the help of a self-serving TV crew that wants to get great footage of the disaster. Lisa (Phoebe Dynevor) is a very pregnant meat company worker who leaves the local plant too late to make it out and gets trapped in her car as the waters rise outside Dakota's house. Meanwhile, three foster kids get trapped in their home when their adoptive parents insist on waiting out the storm until its too late. The big problem is sharks. They've come in with the storm surge, partly drawn by a truck full of meat-packing waste that fills the town waters (even though the foster kids live live much further out of town). The storm and the sharks menace everyone.

Director Wirkola has a track record of high-concept/medium delivery films (Dead Snow, Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters, Violent Night). He has some interesting ideas here but so many things don't make sense. When the truck of chum breaks open, why does the blood and gore go out to sea when the storm surge is pushing everything inland? Why are the foster parents getting checks from the US Treasury and not a local foster care agency? How does their "snorkel-equipped" pickup truck even work? The execution just is not well thought out. The movie is not exciting enough to cover over the big holes in believability and it takes itself too seriously to laugh off the dumb ideas. 

Not recommended--we need a better shark movie!