I wonder what could a movie titled Crabs! be about? Could it possibly be about an invasion of giant killer crabs? Well, there’s only one way to find out. Welcome to Subversive Rabbit, dear reader, a place where you can find hundreds of personal movie recommendations. I try to recommend movies everyone can enjoy but sometimes I feel compelled to include the ones that might not be for everyone. Crabs! is a charming low-budged horror comedy about a group of teenagers fighting against an invasion of giant killer crabs. It opens in the best way possible as we see a couple having sex on a beach.
And then we find out that the guy’s name is Sequoia, I mean come on. All of this tells you that this is a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. After this amusing intro, we find ourselves in a small and sleepy coastal town where preparations for the prom are in full swing. So, we have this blend of Jaws and your classic coming-of-age teen comedy. If you don’t have a lot of money at your disposal you better make sure your script is intelligent and funny. And that’s exactly what Pierce Berolzheimer who wrote and directed this movie did.
I also have to add that I appreciate all the weed smoking although I did mutter bastards every time someone lit up. One day, one day, I will be able to get back to my favorite thing in the world. Crabs! is not one of those cheap SyFy movies like Sharknado, intentionally going for that so bad that it’s good vibe. No, this is a classic indie horror comedy that’s not afraid to be ambitious or silly. I have to admit that ten years ago, I wouldn’t recommend you this movie. The effects are not the greatest and the whole movie is just so silly. You would be better off watching Feast or better yet, Grabbers.
However, over the years, I began to appreciate these small movies featuring stereotypical characters and formulaic stories. They’re sort of a guilty pleasure of mine, a safe space where I can laugh and relax. Additionally, you can feel they come from a good place. Just give them a chance and they might even surprise you. For example, did you know that this practice still exists in high schools in the US? My jaw fucking dropped during that scene. So, we can now add horseshoe crabs to our evergrowing list of killer animals, plants, and other living organisms.
It’s funny that this year we also got a hidden gem featuring killer sloths imaginatively titled Slotherhouse. I guess now is as good a time as any to talk about Radu. He’s supposed to be this clueless foreign exchange student so just think of him as a college version of Borat. His antics can be quite annoying but also fascinating to watch. It’s like the balls of not only the director and writer to introduce such a character but also Chase Padgett giving it all he’s got. As time goes on, the movie starts taking bigger and bigger risks until it eventually turns into a crazy mess of themes that somehow still works.
The whole thing reminds me a bit of Night of the Creeps although Dance of the Dead would be a better fit. And certain scenes are taken directly from Gremlins. Finally, Crabs! is a fast-paced, short (75 minutes), and silly creature feature that will leave you in a good mood.
Director: Pierce Berolzheimer
Writer: Pierce Berolzheimer
Cast: Dylan Riley Snyder, Jessica Morris, Bryce Durfee, Chase Padgett, Robert Craighead
Fun Facts: Radu, played by Chase Padgett breaks the fourth wall during closing credits admitting the director paid him 50 bucks to make the outro song.
Rating:
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4520920/
