Possibly the most blatant clone of Jaws around this Itallian production has never seen proper release in North America (and still isn't on video here) because of that fact. Universal sued the producers and they withdrew the movie - never to be seen again but in European prints.

After a long-winded (ha!) windsurfing introduction we are introduced to our heroes James Franciscus and Vic Morrow (a total clone of Robert Shaw's character in Jaws and sporting a quite humourous Scottish accent) who set-out after a gigantic great white shark that's been chomping on people in their peaceful shoreline village.

Pretty formulaic stuff isn't as bad as say, Tentacles, but it's a pretty mediocre affair that's deemed semi-watchable by Morrow's totally hammy performance, some mis-matched stock footage that's used and a completely robotic looking shark.

Worth seeing for genre fans (and those interested in seeing what all the legal wrangling was about); but mostly silly and forgettable. A lot of the underwater scenes are too dark as well.

Unintentional chuckles can be had during the windsurfing contest (especially the "boat launched into the air" scene), the fact most chewed-on victims are obvious dummies, the seige scene on a broken-off piece of dock that turns out more funny than suspenseful and the infamous scene with the shark dragging a hellicopter into the water. And this could be the source of Leviathan's final scene (where Peter Weller punches-out his superior) as Franciscus decks a nosey reporter.

Directed By: Enzo G. Castellari.
Written By: Mark Princi.

Starring: James Franciscus, Vic Morrow, Micky Pignatelli, Joshua Sinclair.

aka: Great White.