Chum
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Chum
Chum (2026) is an American horror thriller film that plunges viewers into a terrifying survival story set against the picturesque backdrop of Malta. Directed by Jonathan Zuck, the movie follows a newlywed couple whose dream destination wedding spirals into chaos when they become stranded between a bloodthirsty shark and a psychopathic human killer. The film explores themes of grief, revenge, and the strains within relationships when faced with life-or-death situations. Marketed for fans of creature features and survival thrillers, "Chum" is noted for its intense violence and psychological dread, making it suitable for a mature audience. Reviewers highlight its attempts to blend shark horror with a serial killer narrative, offering a raw depiction of human and natural predatory threats.
Things to Consider
Violence
The film features graphic and frequent violence, including brutal shark attacks and a human killer. Descriptions highlight sustained threats, dismemberment, and characters being used as bait. The violence is a central element of the horror-thriller genre.
The opening scene depicts a woman being "devoured by a great white shark" with her "lower half bobbing in the water". The fisherman, Roy, impales a character and later asks, "Are you okay?", highlighting the callous nature of the violence. Roy also ties up wedding guests and lowers them into a shark cage to use as live bait.
Scary & Intense Content
As a horror-thriller, the film is designed to be frightening and intensely suspenseful. It features prolonged sequences of threat, psychological horror, and graphic violence, contributing to a heightened stress state for viewers.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The film features significant instances of disrespect and rebellion within interpersonal relationships and against authority. Characters defy marital commitments and societal norms, and the antagonist engages in extreme vigilantism.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Recommended for ages 17+ due to graphic violence, sustained psychological intensity, thematic elements of revenge and human predation, and some suggestive content and language. The film is officially Not Rated (NR), but parental reviews indicate content comparable to an R-rating.
Good to Know
The film has received generally negative reviews, with critics often highlighting poor CGI effects for the shark and blood, subpar acting, and an uninspired plot. Many reviews compare it unfavorably to other 'sharksploitation' films. The movie's runtime is a concise 87 minutes, which some reviewers found still too long given the pacing issues.
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