Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens (2016)

sharknado 4 the 4th awakens poster 2016 movie
3.0 Overall Score
Story: 3/10
Acting: 3/10
Visuals: 3/10

Over-the-top popcorn type movie

Intentionally bad doesn't always equal good

Movie Info

Movie Name:  Sharknado 4:  The 4th Awakens

Studio:  Syfy/BondIt Media Capital/The Asylum

Genre(s):  Horror/Comedy/B-Movie/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action/Adventure

Release Date(s):  July 31, 2016

MPAA Rating:  Not Rated

sharknado 4 the 4th awakens fin vs shark on train ian ziering

It’s a shark-bouldernado!

The threat of sharknados have been stopped by Astro-X and its high-tech creator Aston Reynolds (Tommy Davidson).  Fin Shepard (Ian Ziering) is trying to put his past behind him with his son Gil and his mother Raye (Cheryl Tiegs).  When Fin is called to Las Vegas to meet his cousin Gemini (Masiela Lusha) and son Matt (Cody Linley), but the danger of the sharknado has surfaced again.  Sharknados are popping up all over the united states and getting stronger by merging with other natural disasters.  Fin teams with Gemini, Matt, and Matt’s new bride Gabrielle (Imani A. Hakim) to fight the danger…and the shock of learning April (Tara Reid) might still be alive might be the only hope of stopping the danger.

Directed by Thunder Levin, Sharknado 4:  The 4th Awaken is a  comedy horror action B-Movie.  Following Sharknado 3:  Oh Hell No! in 2015, the film premiered on Syfy on July 31, 2016.

sharknado 4 the 4th awakens niagara falls fin april flying tara reid ian ziering

They’ll make you believe that Tara Reid can fly!

Sharknado movies are weird entities.  While they are parodies and intentionally bad, they also try too hard to be bad.  The movies sway from so-so, to entertaining, to outright miserable to watch.  Sharknado 4:  The 4th Awakens is one of those movies you can watch and goof on, but it is also just not finding the happy medium it needs.

The story generally involves a big event followed by the characters running around trying to stop the impending sharknados.  It is rather formulaic at this point and that includes loading the film with big cameos and surprise “return” of characters in intentionally ridiculous ways.  The parody of action movies and thrillers could be labeled as genius, but it also feels lazy in that it feels like they are just going through checklists of what they need to make fun of in the action-horror-thriller genres.

Ian Ziering does his best as Fin Shepard and seems to get the joke of the over-the-top film.  It isn’t the best acting, but it also isn’t meant to be.  Tara Reid is a little less on target, but Tommy Davidson adds some fun to the movie.  The movie brings back David Hasselhoff and adds Cheryl Tiegs as Fin’s mother.  Guest appearances include Gary Busy, Stacey Dash, Susan Anton, Todd Chrisley, David Faustino, Gilbert Gottfried, Hayley Hasselhoff, Donna Mills, Natalie Morales, Vince Neil, Wayne Newton, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Al Roker, Paul Shaffer, and Carrot Top among others.

sharknado 4 the 4th awakens ending whale

The chainsaw is passed

The movie is bad looking, but once again, it is intentionally bad.  It is cheesy and goofy, and though it works within the budget, it also looks cheap.  The cheapness does add to the style of the film, but that doesn’t really make for a good film.

Sharknado 4:  The 4th Awakens is what it is.  If you like Sharknado movies, you’ll probably like this entry…and if you don’t, it won’t win you (and why would you be watching at this point).  It is still the type of movies you can gather friends to watch and make fun of it…but even this parody is losing its bite.  Sharknado 4:  The 4th Awakens is followed by Sharknado 5:  Global Swarming.

Related Links:

Sharknado (2013)

Sharknado 2:  The Second One (2014)

Sharknado 3:  Oh Hell No! (2015)

Author: JPRoscoe View all posts by
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.

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