Crabs!

2021 American film
  • Dylan Riley Snyder
  • Bryce Durfee
  • Allie Jennings
  • Jessica Morris
  • Chase Padgett
  • Robert Craighead
Edited byPierce Berolzheimer
L. Gustavo CooperMusic byMike Trebilcock
Production
companies
Ojala Productions
Young Gunner Films
Distributed byRaven Banner
Release date
  • 26 August 2021 (2021-08-26) (FrightFest)
Running time
80 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Crabs! is a 2021 American comedy horror film directed by Pierce Berolzheimer, starring Dylan Riley Snyder, Bryce Durfee, Allie Jennings, Jessica Morris, Chase Padgett and Robert Craighead.[1][2][3] It is the directorial debut of Berolzheimer.[4]

Plot

A nuclear accident transforms a pack of horseshoe crabs into murderous monsters. The crabs descend on a sleepy coastal town on Prom night, and only a ragtag group of outcasts can save the day.

Cast

  • Dylan Riley Snyder as Phillip McCalister
  • Bryce Durfee as Hunter McCalister
  • Allie Jennings as Maddy Menrath
  • Jessica Morris as Annalise Menrath
  • Chase Padgett as Radu
  • Robert Craighead as Sheriff Flannegan

Release

Raven Banner acquired the film in September 2015.[5] The film premiered at FrightFest on 26 August 2021.[6]

Reception

Phil Wheat of Nerdly rated the film 4 stars out of 5, calling it "totally stupid but stupid in the most clever, brilliant, FUN (this film is really, REALLY, fun!) way".[7] Martin Unsworth of Starburst rated the film 3 stars out of 5, writing that "If you can get over the offensive stereotypes and take it in the spirit in which it was no doubt made, you could have a lot of fun."[8] Film critic Anton Bitel, writing for VODzilla.com, rated the film 3 stars out of 5, calling it "a mad, monstrous B-movie throwback pitting man (and mecha) against a marine menace".[9] Jacob Davison of iHorror rated the film 3 "eyes" out of 5, calling it a "low-brow creature feature with killer horseshoe crabs, wacky characters, and ample amounts of blood and gore."[10]

Michael Gingold of Rue Morgue wrote a positive review of the film, writing that "For teen and older fans who can get into its goofball spirit and its clear love of animal-attack mayhem, CRABS! is a diverting, no-longer-than-it-has-to-be 80 minutes that will fill the bill for future festival/late-night screenings and alcohol-fueled watch parties."[11] Film critic Kim Newman wrote a positive review of the film.[12] Sean Parker of Horror Obsessive wrote a positive review of the film, writing that "The acting is mostly good, some of the jokes hit gut-busting territory, there are awesome practical effects, and the film’s popping color palette is far better than it should be."[13] Louisa Moore of Screen Zealots wrote a positive review of the film.[14]

Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting rated the film 2.5 out of 5, writing that while the film "doesn’t make a lot of sense, and it doesn’t bother trying", it "leans into its low budget and uses that in its favor. It wants to provide a nonsensical time at the movies, never meant to be taken seriously. It has all the finesse of a sledgehammer, delivering nonstop blunt force humor that will either alienate viewers or reluctantly win them over."[15] Lon Strickland of MovieWeb wrote that the film is "as terrible as it is amazing".[16]

References

  1. ^ Squires, John (11 February 2022). "'Crabs' Trailer Unleashes Giant Man-Eating Crabs in Kaiju Creature Feature Spectacle!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  2. ^ McAndrews, Mary Beth (15 February 2022). "In 'Crabs' Giant Human Devouring Kaiju-Style Crabs Are Out For Blood [Trailer]". Dread Central. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  3. ^ Hamman, Cody (8 February 2022). "Crabs! trailer: nature run amok horror comedy is coming soon". JoBlo.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  4. ^ Mack, Andrew (7 February 2022). "CRABS! Trailer: What's Bigger Than a King Crab? Why, a Kaiju Crab of Course". ScreenAnarchy. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  5. ^ Kay, Jeremy (26 September 2015). "Raven Banner acquires 'Crabs!'". Screen Daily. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  6. ^ Mack, Andrew (24 August 2021). "CRABS!: An Ode to a Horror Classic And a Wee Bit of Blood in Our First Look". ScreenAnarchy. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  7. ^ Wheat, Phil (27 August 2021). "Frightfest 2021: 'Crabs!' Review". Nerdly. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  8. ^ Unsworth, Martin (27 August 2021). "CRABS! [FrightFest 2021]". Starburst. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  9. ^ Bitel, Anton (27 August 2021). "FrightFest 2021 film review Crabs!". VODzilla.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  10. ^ Davison, Jacob (20 May 2022). "Panic Fest 2022 Review: 'Crabs!' Is a Goofy and Fun Crabby Creature Feature". iHorror. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  11. ^ Gingold, Michael (31 August 2021). "FRIGHTFEST '21 REVIEW: A SILLY CASE OF "CRABS!"". Rue Morgue. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  12. ^ Newman, Kim (27 August 2021). "FrightFest review - Crabs!". The Kim Newman Web Site. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  13. ^ Parker, Sean (1 September 2021). "FrightFest 2021: Crustacean Carnage-Comedy Crabs! Is Worth Catching". Horror Obsessive. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  14. ^ Moore, Louisa (30 April 2022). ""CRABS!"". Screen Zealots. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  15. ^ Navarro, Meagan (29 April 2022). "'Crabs!' Review – Schlocky Creature Feature Embraces Low Brow Humor and Spirit With Pride [Panic Fest]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  16. ^ Strickland, Lon (6 May 2022). "Crabs!: What to Know About This Campy B-Horror Flick". MovieWeb. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  • Crabs! at IMDb
  • Crabs! at Rotten Tomatoes