Underplayed Gems

Barracuda (1988)

Barracuda poster
Directed by
Pino Amenta
Genre
drama film
Country
Australia
Runtime
1h 34m
Rating
7.0 of 10 from 1 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

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The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A detective investigates a series of murders linked to Triad gangs in Sydney. The plot involves corrupt police officials, businessmen, and brothels.

datedslow-pacedclichédunsettlingformulaicmelodramaticcheesywatchable

What happens

Barracuda is a 1988 Australian TV film. Writing in the Age Jim Schembri called the names of the lead detectives as Abbottson and Costelli a "comic contrivance" and writes "The film is dogged by an awful soundtrack (you can always tell something sinister is happening because of the pulsing string section), leaden pacing (with plot you should have movement), some loose ends that stay that way (what was the deal with Abbottson's former partner?), and some limply staged action (the finale is real fizzer). The Sydney Morning Herald's Alison Stewart says "Surprisingly, it's quite watchable, despite the vaguely clichéd plot, which weaves in corrupt assistant police commissioners, prominent Sydney businessmen, ritual Triad killings, brothels, bribes, greed and a whole assortment of shots of the Opera House." Doug Anderson in the Sydney Morning Herald gave it a rating of "View at Own Risk!" Rob Lowing's capsule review in the same paper gave it 2 1/2 stars noting "Plot lacks excitement but the cast is solid". (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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