Chum – Movie Review (1/5)

CHUM is a shark thriller starring Alice Eve. While the shark scenes look good, the movie itself is really bad. It’s a sad thing when bad movies happen to good actors, but that is absolutely the case here. Such a shame, but the plot is just terrible all around. Read our full Chum movie review here!

CHUM is a shark thriller being released on VOD by IFC. The runtime is 1 hour and 27 minutes, which is a good 1 hour and 20 minutes too long. Can you tell that I wasn’t happy with this shark movie? I was all ready to watch a solid shark movie and was, frankly, only nervous that the special effects would be terrible.

Apparently, I should have been much more concerned with whether the plot was at least decent. It isn’t.

WANT A GOOD SHARK MOVIE?

Check out our list of shark horror movies here >

Continue reading our Chum movie review below. Coming out on June 5, 2026, but I can’t recommend watching it for anything except the shark VFX.

First comes marriage, then comes… sharks?

Chum opens with a wedding, where something is clearly a little off. Exactly what is wrong won’t be revealed for a while. And, really, it has nothing to do with the shark plot – even as they try to make it so in the final scene.

Anyway, we meet the newlyweds (Alice Eve and Eric Michael Cole) at their wedding in Malta. The very next day, they begin their honeymoon by going on a boat ride with their friends. As one does on one’s honeymoon?!

This being a shark thriller, you already know that a bloodthirsty shark (aren’t they always just that?) attacks their boat. Why? Well, that’s not for you to worry about yet.

Soon, a sinister fisherman – this description comes from the official press release, mind you – will show up to help them. Of course, the description of the fisherman being sinister reveals that he isn’t really there to help. In fact, he has a hidden agenda, and they all find themselves in his trap.

Now, they are “forced between open water and a relentless human predator”, which makes this sound like a new take on the awesome shark horror thriller Dangerous Animals. That is not what Chum is. In fact, the plot of this movie is downright ridiculous, and virtually all the characters are spoiled brats and fairly unlikable.

Bottom line: I was rooting for the shark!

Why is IFC releasing Chum?

We review movies that have screened at film festivals but still haven’t secured distribution. Well-made movies, sometimes even really good movies. So I have no idea why Independent Film Company decided to have Chum in their portfolio of independent movies.

In fact, I can only guess that they felt Alice Eve (Cult Killer) was enough of a name to draw in an audience. Also, shark movies almost sell themselves, because there are so many who love this niche (myself included).

In other words, I cannot imagine that this movie was chosen on its own merits. The plot is simply terrible!

Right now, there are two horror movies at the #1 and #2 spots at the movies; maybe IFC should look in that direction instead. These two movies, Backrooms and Obsession, come from original and fresh talent who started by making short films on their respective YouTube channels.

For the record, I do want to acknowledge that maybe Chum was a very different movie initially and has turned into this monster by no fault of the filmmakers. However, this still doesn’t answer why IFC is releasing the movie. With so many brilliant productions looking for distribution, IFC releases Chum?

Something fishy is going on.

You can watch Chum in theaters or on VOD

Chum was directed by Jonathan Zuck, who previously directed the horror thriller Within the Darkness (2016) and the action-comedy Meant to Be Broken (2018). Also, he has directed a lot of short films over the years.

The story comes from James Kondelik, Ryan R. Johnson, and Dick Grunert (yes, three men, and it shows in all the stereotypical ways), and the screenplay by director Jonathan Zuck and Joe Leone (Half Sisters). To me, the visuals and directing worked just fine, but the story ruined all that was good.

For me, anyway!

And while I understand filming in beautiful Malta, it seems ridiculous to then have all the characters be American. Come on, utilize this wonderful location to have a few more native characters at the core of the story. Like the very American fisherman, who was now in Malta, and no one wondered why?!

You can watch it for the gorgeous effects highlighting the beautiful shark. Just know that most VFX not involving the shark isn’t very good. The shark visuals are truly gorgeous, though, so I’ll give it that.

Chum is out in theaters and on VOD from June 5, 2026.

Details

Director: Jonathan Zuck
Story: James Kondelik, Ryan R. Johnson & Dick Grunert
Screenplay: Jonathan Zuck & Joe Leone
Cast: Alice Eve, Eric Michael Cole, Elle Haymond, Sarah Siadat, Johnny Gaffney, Lisa Yaro, Jim Klock