When flesh-eating piranhas are accidently released into a summer resort’s rivers, the guests become their next meal.
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Believe it or not this my introduction into the mad world of Roger Corman films, it would be this film that had me digging through and discovering his amazing past work, but that is another story. Here we witness what Corman is well known for what he could create on a small budget.
He’s also well known for discovering new and upcoming talent, he did that again here when he hired the amazing Joe Dante as director. He certainly does an amazing job here and gives us a glimpse of his talents that he would become famous for.
The film is well known for being a “Jaws” spoof (Universal famously attempted to sue New World) but it does stands well on it’s own it has since gone on to have a cult following and rightfully so, it’s full of humour, blood and is such a pure cheesefest that you can’t help but love it.
The casting for the film is as expected really, Joe Dante directed so of course we get the legendary Dick Miller appearing but the big shocker for me was the addition of Barbara Steele. By this point in her career she was a highly well known and respected actress, I’m not saying this was beneath her but her addition to the cast was surprising.
“Piranha” is b-movie gold, it’s definitely worth a watch if you like these style of films.
Miscellaneous facts about the film:
The piranha were done by attaching rubber puppet fish to sticks.
Universal Studios attempted to sue New World for spoofing Jaws (1975). However, Steven Spielberg saw the movie in advance and loved it. After that, Universal dropped the lawsuit.
This film was reported to have been shot in 30 days for $660,000.
The score cost $10,000 dollars.
Piranha (1978) had some documented production problems. There were last-minute cast changes, underwater cameras that kept breaking down, union woes, and unusable second unit footage. It still went on to become one of New World Pictures’ biggest hits.
Rick Baker was originally tapped to provide the make-up effects but recommended the then 17-year-old Rob Bottin instead.
The special effects budget was $50,000.
The film was designed to jump on the huge success of Jaws (1975). Roger Corman was known for producing films that were veiled imitations of more successful movies. But it still took a further three years to raise enough money to make the film. By which time Jaws 2 (1978) had already been made.
One of a cycle of 1980s and mid-late 1970s movies that got made after the box-office success of Jaws (1975). The films include that movie’s three sequels, Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3-D (1983), and Jaws: The Revenge (1987), as well as Orca (1977), Piranha (1978), Tentacles (1977), Killer Fish (1979), Barracuda (1978), Tintorera: Killer Shark (1977), Blood Beach (1980), Piranha Part Two: The Spawning (1981), The Last Shark (1981), Up from the Depths (1979), Humanoids from the Deep (1980), Screamers (1979), Devil Fish (1984) and Mako: The Jaws of Death (1976).
Bradford Dillman was originally unhappy with his character’s 2D nature, and asked writer John Sayles why his character was so thin. Sayles responded that Roger Corman regularly did not use good actors in his film, so he deliberately didn’t elaborate on characters. But since Dillman was a “real” actor, he was more than happy to enhance his character’s depth.
The extras were all paid $5 a day and given a box lunch.
A waitress from the Holiday Inn where the director and crew were staying stood in for Heather Menzies during the topless shots because Menzies was concerned that her husband might not approve of the nude scene.
This movie was one of the first efforts for effects and makeup artists Rob Bottin and Phil Tippett.
Executive producer Roger Corman called this film “my homage to ‘Jaws’ (1975).”
Barry Brown’s last role in a theatrical feature.
Barbara Steele’s role was originally written for a man.
A “bobbing corpse” that appears in the climactic piranha attack was modeled after Rob Bottin.
The novelization fills in some of the background about Paul’s character. His wife left him which is why he’s such a hard drinker. The only explanation given is that she couldn’t stand the sight of him. He doesn’t write or try to contact his daughter, something Laura the camp councilor resented him for. She later changed her mind about Paul after saving (some of) the kids from piranha. Including his daughter. And the main reason Dumont thinks he’s drunk over the phone is because during one visit to the camp, Paul drunkenly threw Dumont in the river when he told him to leave.
Originally, Maggie counted to 300 instead of 100 at the climax. This was probably changed because in all likelihood, Paul would have drowned after being underwater for that long.
The video game that Maggie (Heather Menzies-Urich) is playing toward the beginning of the movie is “Jaws”.
Peter Fonda was originally offered the role of Paul Grogan, but turned it down.
In the novelization, Brandy dies as well when she jumps in the water after the piranha to avenge Jack. Since she isn’t seen again after Jack’s body is found, that scene was probably cut from the film.
Although implied by the film, the novelization confirms that Paul and Maggie slept together while Hoak is their prisoner.
When the guard at the dam is watching a commercial promoting the resort at Lost River Lake, originally some of Dumont’s campers were part of the promotion, but this was cut from the movie. Another scene cut was Dumont accidentally appeared in the background of the commercial, ruining the shot. He was ordered off the premises by Buck Gardener.
The boy on the canoe originally didn’t emerge unscathed like he does in the film. He suffered severe lacerations on his arms but this doesn’t appear in the film. He is however in a state of shock because of his father’s death. He even thinks Hoak is his father, which is why he keeps calling him Daddy when Paul and Maggie dump his body overboard.
The novelization also fills in some trivia about Maggie. When her boyfriend just walked out on her, she hired a skip-tracer to find him. She got so hooked on the process she decided to become one herself. By the time she caught up with her ex, she wasn’t interested anymore in why he left.
John Sayles used the profits from the film to fund his own projects. It was also his scriptwriting debut.
Eric Braeden was originally cast as Paul Grogan, but he pulled out to pursue another project. He had already shot some underwater swimming footage which is used in the film.
The Aquarena Springs and Resort theme park (located in San Marcos Springs in San Marcos, TX), which opened in 1951, was purchased and became the property of Texas State University – San Marcos (formerly Southwest Texas State University). The amusement park ceased operations in 1996 and the facility is known as Aquarena Center (an environmental learning center).
The breed of piranha is Brazilian in the novelization.
In one if the scenes a girl is seen reading Moby Dick, this story is also about a marine animal attacking people.
Belinda Balaski’s death scene was shot in a pool. Thirty fake piranha were attached to Balaski’s body with gaffer’s tape and a bunch of crew members pulled her into the deep end of the pool with ropes to make it look like her character was sinking into the water. Moreover, Roger Corman demanded a reshoot of Balaski’s death scene because he thought the first version didn’t have enough blood in it.
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