In the early part of the 2010s, American studio The Asylum became both well-known and reviled for their ability to churn out a slew of incredibly cheesy, CGI-driven creature feature spectacles and ripoffs of mainstream properties, with titles ranging from “Sharknado,” “Transmorphers,” and “Zoombies” to name just a few of the company's output. While the studio still exists in delivering cheesy ripoffs and mock-ups of blockbuster releases, very few are aware of the current output afforded by Chinese production studios filling the niche gap of cheesy creature features and genre output. Not the first of their releases but among the first to get exported to the West is Yue Ang Wang's mash-up of “Deep Blue Sea” and “Jaws 3D” known by various titles but delivered in a dubbed version called “Blood Bite.”
Several years after a diving accident, scientist Ming Shu Yung (Fong Lik-sung) is reluctantly asked to participate in a project with biologist Jessica (Tara Clance) at a local Aquatic park. Realizing that his girlfriend Jiwan (Weitong Zhau) is employed by owner of the park Chin (Wen Dongjun) who is also responsible for his missing leg and fear of sharks, he becomes more concerned with the project when it's revealed that Chin's assistant Yow (Yue Ang Wang) is leading a team that has genetically engineered a massive shark and is looking to use the new team's help in securing funding to complete the research needed to control the beast. When it gets loose and starts devouring the crew at the facility, they have to race to stop it from escaping.
Generally, “Blood Bite” is a fun cheesy genre effort. This comes about from the fine combination of elements present here by writer Zhang Li that allows for a dynamic entry. Featuring the immensely cheesy setup of the research team looking for help in completing their project of genetic engineering revolving around the hybrid Great White Shark in their control is the appropriately goofy and misguided approach common in the genre. The pseudo-scientific viewpoints expressed here in how the shark was bred to protect the species from extinction that's enabled it to get out of control with their eventual escape and overtaking the facility making for a rather fun time. Combined with this, the idea of the setup serves to mix together the cheesy nature of the film by allowing the opportunity for a series of trashy spectacle sequences to appear as the film goes along. That helps make for a generally fun time as this one hits a slew of expected beats, capitalizing on the connection to its genre inspirations.
That setup enables “Blood Bite” to come off quite well with the slew of cheesy action scenes promised. The opening shots of the crew hunting the shark in the middle of the ocean starts this off quite nicely, while the series of interactions with the other sharks at the facility offer a decent series of spectacle-filled sequences. The rampage through the facility, once the shark gets loose, is far too fun with the containment systems failing and allowing for the mechanical issues facing Chin and the group, as they are complicated by the shark in the area, to escape the facility. There's also the highly impressive finale that contains all manner of fun action as the team sets out to stop the shark and manages to elicit plenty of goofy underwater confrontations which bring about a thrilling, high-energy affair during this section. That these scenes are presented more in a serious matter than the activities presented adds a fine layer of cheese onto the presentation.
There are several big drawbacks in”Blood Bite.” The biggest issue here is the highly unoriginal and cliche love-story setup to reintroduce Ming and Jiwan back together, which is incredibly forced and underwhelming. The circumstances surrounding their meet-up are a total accident and make it seem to be a complete coincidence that serves more as a means of letting Ming reconnect with his brother. That becomes the main focus here rather than the romance, as Jiwan has very little reason to pursue it beyond holding onto the card she lifted from him the day of the accident which just wholly cements the setup as flimsy as possible. Likewise, the other big issue here is the terrible CGI utilized for the majority of the special effects, which are immensely obvious. The blotchy shark and goofy water effects intending to enhance the spectacle of the action are cheap and help paint the cheesy nature of what's going on just as much as the activities featured, which are what all hold this one down.
Featuring plenty of cheesy action for better or worse, “Blood Bite” manages to be fun enough for those who are fans of the sillier side of creature features which this one is firmly in line with. Any and all fans of that style will be the main audience here.
And lastly, although this is based on the version known as “Blood Bite,” avoid this version in favor of the original title “Horror Shark.” That is a subtitled version free on the Youku Youtube Channel rather than the horrible Engish Dub available on most streaming platforms.
