Dir: Mark L Lester. US. 2013. 76mins

Poseidon Rex

A monster from the ocean depths up against a bikini-clad scientist! Poseidon Rex may well lack budget, effects and even much of a script, but for fans of cheesy B-movie creature features (such as gems like Sharkzilla and Jurassic Attack) it is a formula that ticks the right genre boxes.

Despite a series of game (though largely substandard) performances the film never really amounts to much more than a by-the-numbers monster movie. The locations are nice though!

The film, which went straight to home entertainment in the UK, gets a brief US theatrical prior to its more natural life on DVD. It is silly – girls, guns, sunshine, pecs, boats and a modestly-sized monster from the deep who is keen on his lunch – and while it doesn’t have the gags and knowing irony to really work it romps along at in an engagingly clumsy fashion.

Set against the tropical and sunny backdrop of Belize, the film stars Brian Krause as Jackson Slate (oh yes, a proper cliché action hero name if ever there was) who stole money from villainous Tariq (Gildon Roland) who wants his money back.  He tells Tariq’s goons about hidden treasure deep beneath the ocean, and plants some underwater explosives.

Sadly the explosion releases the mighty Poseidon Rex, so dubbed by that bikini-wearing marine micro-biological paleontologist Dr. Sarah (Anne McDaniels, from Attack Of The 50ft. Cheerleader) who teams with Jackson and a buff pair of holidaymakers to go treasure hunting and face up to hungry P-Rex. And not only does he chomp while at sea but he also chases his food on land.

Even with P-Rex hard on their heels Jackson and Sarah still find time to get it on, and in due course the scene is set for the army ready to bomb Belize…so it up to Jackson and Sarah and a bazooka or two to try and stop the big scaly guy in his tracks.

Veteran director Mark L Lester (who made Commando and Fire Starter) pretty much goes through the motions, but despite a series of game (though largely substandard) performances the film never really amounts to much more than a by-the-numbers monster movie. The locations are nice though!

Production company/sales: Titan Global International, www.titanglobalent.net

Producers: Anthony Fankhauser, Mark L Lester

Executive producers: Stuart Alson, Jeff Goldman, Felix McNulty

Screenplay: Rafael Jordan

Cinematography: Alexander Yellen

Editor: Daniel Duncan

Production designer: John ‘Skip’ Weaver

Music: Chris Cano

Main cast: Brian Krause, Anne McDaniels, Steven Helmkamp, Candice Nunes, Berne Velasquez, Gildon Roland, Pulu Lightburn