Halloween is almost here, and some things simply refuse to stay dead.
During Shark Week this summer, I joined horror host Count Drahoon for something a little different. Instead of counting down the greatest shark movies ever made, we descended into the murky depths of bad shark cinema to pick The Five Worst Shark Movies Ever Made.
Now we’re raising the countdown from the dead for Halloween.
Sharks have occupied a unique place in horror ever since Jaws exploded into popular culture in 1975. Vampires, werewolves, zombies and masked slashers aren’t waiting for you when you step into the ocean, but sharks are real. That connection to an actual powerful predator gives even the most ridiculous shark movie a little something that other creature features don’t have.
Of course, the sharks Count Drahoon and I discuss aren’t exactly models of biological accuracy. We’re talking questionable special effects, impossible shark behavior, bizarre plots and filmmaking decisions that have to be seen to be believed. That’s exactly what makes this countdown so much fun, and Halloween seemed like the perfect excuse to bring it back.
So turn down the lights, grab some popcorn and join Count Drahoon and me as we descend into the depths of truly bad shark cinema.
WATCH: COUNT DRAHOON & CHESTER MOORE COUNT DOWN THE FIVE WORST SHARK MOVIES EVER MADE
I’m not giving away our five selections here. You’ll have to watch the video to find out which movies sank to the bottom, and if you think we missed an even worse one, let us know.
Last Call for the Halloween Shark Book Special
Earlier this month, on Oct. 3—my birthday—I brought back the original Shark Week price on my book, Gulf Great White Sharks: Unveiling the Mystery of Apex Predators in the Forgotten Sea.
That special ends Halloween night.
Through Oct. 31, you can get a personally signed copy for $17.95, shipping included anywhere in the U.S., plus an exclusive Gulf Great White Shark Society logo decal.
Outdoor writer Kelly Barrera recently had this to say about the book:
“The truth is they were out there all along, and what changed was not their presence but our ability to see and understand it.”
She went on to write:
“Gulf Great White Sharks is a fascinating must read for those who are intrigued by these mysterious apex predators. Chester Moore’s compelling interviews with scientists and firsthand encounters and tales from Gulf Coast fishermen will leave you with a clearer reality and appreciation of the Gulf of Mexico’s diverse shark ecosystem.”
That first line gets right to the heart of this entire project.
They Were Out There All Along
Great white sharks didn’t suddenly discover the Gulf of Mexico. For much of my career, the idea of great whites regularly entering the Gulf existed somewhere between fishing lore, scattered historical records and encounters that were difficult to verify. I became fascinated with the subject more than three decades ago and kept digging.
Today, modern tracking technology and the work of shark researchers are allowing us to see a picture previous generations simply could not. The great whites were out there all along; what changed was our ability to find and follow them.
That story became the foundation of Gulf Great White Sharks. The book combines my decades-long investigation with interviews with leading shark scientists, firsthand encounters, accounts from commercial fishermen, historical records and modern tracking data to explore one of the Gulf of Mexico’s most fascinating wildlife mysteries.
The great white is only part of the story. The Gulf is home to an extraordinary diversity of large sharks, including tiger sharks, bull sharks, whale sharks and shortfin makos, while historical records reveal encounters with other giants, including basking sharks. We tend to think we know the Gulf because millions of us fish it, swim in it, travel across it and live along its shores, but beneath that familiar surface is a massive marine wilderness that still holds surprises. Great white sharks might be the ultimate example.
One of the strangest, most mysterious and most controversial shark films ever is Great White Death. In a special episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore takes a deeper look at this unusual production, where the blockbuster influence of Jaws collided with the disturbing world of Faces of Death.
Great White Death: When Jaws Met Faces of Death is available now on Dark Outdoors.
Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7AyxLDU2pLPmaBvccpENns
Listen on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/great-white-death-when-jaws-met-faces-of-death/id1630809603?i=1000797359935The Great White as Real-Life HorrorA Punk-Rock Shark Project
The Gulf Great White Shark Society is essentially a punk-rock-style, self-funded enterprise. We don’t have an enormous corporate machine behind us, so book and shirt purchases help keep the lights on, so to speak, and allow me to continue researching, interviewing scientists and fishermen, producing original shark content and conducting positive, research-based educational outreach.
My goal from the beginning has been to help change the conversation surrounding great white sharks and other large sharks in the Gulf. At GulfGreatWhites.com, we advocate for shark conservation and greater understanding of these animals. That doesn’t mean pretending large sharks aren’t potentially dangerous; it means recognizing their power while also appreciating their importance to the marine environment.
These animals deserve investigation, conservation and respect, and every book purchased helps us continue that work.
Halloween Special — Through Oct. 31
$17.95 — Shipping Included Anywhere in the U.S.
The package includes a personally signed copy of Gulf Great White Sharks: Unveiling the Mystery of Apex Predators in the Forgotten Sea, an exclusive Gulf Great White Shark Society logo decal and shipping anywhere in the United States.
To order, send $17.95 through one of the options below and be sure to include your mailing address in the payment notes.
PayPal: PayPal — Chester Moore
Venmo: Venmo — @Lmoore526
Cash App: Cash App — $Moorefamily2310
I’ll personally sign your copy, include the Gulf Great White Shark Society decal and get it headed your way.
So this Halloween, have some fun with Count Drahoon and me as we revisit five of the worst sharks Hollywood ever unleashed, then dive into the story of the incredible predators actually swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hollywood gave us monsters. The Gulf gave us the real thing and the truth is a whole lot more interesting.
Chester Moore
Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms
@gulfgreatwhitesharksociety on Instagram
@thechestermoore on Instagram
Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook
Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.
Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.
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