Last month, television viewers were treated to one of the most highly anticipated so-bad-it-might-be-good sequels this side of Godfather 2: Sharknado 2: The Second One. The shark tale was so successful -- we're talking 4 million viewers successful -- that SyFy and filmmakers The Asylum are partnering with Fathom Events to bring Sharknado 2: The Second One to theaters nationwide tomorrow night, for one night only.
If the words Sharknado 2: The Second One alone are not reason enough to go to the movie theater tomorrow night, here are ten more. Spoilers ahead, obviously -- not that it'll ruin how awesomebad this movie is.
See also: Why Isn't Sharknado 2 Set in Miami?
10. FOMO.
Sharknado 2: The Second One and its predecessor are probably going to take up lots of airtime in the inevitable I Love the 2010s specials. Both these movies are some of the most live-tweeted shows so far this decade. If you missed out on the most-watched thing SyFy's ever had, you have one more chance to redeem yourself in the eyes of your early-adopter friends. They can say they saw it first, but you can always say you saw that shit on the big screen.
9. It's more than just the movie.
Theatergoers will be treated to an extra dose of behind-the scenes footage and a blooper reel. I mean, the movie itself will probably feel like one big blooper reel, so it's always nice to get an extra dose. We're also looking forward to seeing just how they made this second Sharknado happen--particularly during the "taxi Frogger" scene where they, quite literally, jump the sharks. You'll see what we mean.
8. A couple of beautiful instances of Chekhov's gun.
"Chekhov's gun" is a narrative principle that states, simply, to not show anything on the page, the stage, or the screen unless you absolutely intend to use it. When a movie famous for its multitude of sins gets such a basic principle right, it does so in splendid and gory fashion: In a scene set during Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan's morning talk show, the camera lingers over Ripa's shoes--sharp stilettos worn in honor of some guest or another who is slated to stop by. This could've been complete nonsensical bad-movie non-sequitur if, later in the film, she didn't use those exact same stilettos to curb-stomp a shark that infiltrated the studio.
The ultimate Chekhov's gun resolution is both an actual gun and the hand that holds it. In the first few minutes of the film, Tara Reid's hand gets bitten off by a shark. In mid-plane crash. While she's unloading an air marshall's pistol clip into it. The last big kill of the film involves our protagonist magically retrieving Reid's severed hand, still holding the gun, and using it to pop some caps into some sharks. The ultimate first act to third act payoff.
7. Get in on the ground floor of what might be a new Rocky Horror Picture Show-style audience participation tradition.
RHPS's midnight showings are places where we shout things at the screen, dress up like the characters, and act out our favorite parts. Why not start a tradition with SyFy's best-performing movie to date? Dress up as one-armed April Wexler! Yell out "Wubba Wubba Wubba" every time Downtown Julie Brown is on-screen. Maybe throw Shark Bites at the screen every time a gratuitous cameo appears.
Speaking of cameos...
6. The throwback cameos
Sharknado 2: The Second One's plot takes a backseat to the mountains of cameos in the film. It might seem like a hodgepodge of people, but some of the best cameos are nostalgic candy: Downtown Julie Brown, Biz Markie, Sandy "Pepa" Denton (with Salt nowhere to be found). A personal favorite was Robert Hays as the pilot of the ill-fated flight at the start of the film--you might recognize him from his role as a pilot in another amazing film, Airplane!
5. The not-so-throwback cameos
I can imagine that many actors wouldn't be caught dead starring in a movie called Sharknado. After the first one's success, it seems like everyone and their mother was now lining up for a chance to be a part of the franchise. Be on the lookout for appearances (and ridiculous death scenes) from Kelly Osbourne, Perez Hilton, Subway's Jared Fogle, Andy Dick, and more.
4. It out-Shark Weeks Shark Week.
Discovery's popular Shark Week is becoming a little less science and a little more sci-fi (or SyFy) with each year's iteration. Instead of fiction masquerading as speculative science, why not just go all the way fictional, silly, and fun? I'd rather see an obviously fake and harmless sharkscapade (where you often end up rooting for the sharks) than some of the pseudo-science that only serves to make sharks more villainous than they really are.
3. Witness a new cult heroine taking charge single-handedly. (See what we did there?)
As one-handed cult characters go, April Wexler might be this generation's Ash Williams (of Army of Darkness fame). Ash, famous for his chainsaw arm/boomstick combo, is a hero of the brilliantly not-so-bad Evil Dead series, and Tara Reid's April Wexler proves to be a worthy successor. April has a meatier role in the sequel than in the previous movie, kicking things off by shooting a shark mid-plane crash and getting her hand bitten off in the process. She orchestrates an escape from a hospital and saves a kid's life in the process. In the film's climax, she ends up ATTACHING A CIRCULAR SAW TO HER HAND and goes absolutely H.A.M. with it. I, for one, hope the saw is a permanent addition that'll see regular use in the inevitable Sharknado 3.
2. Maybe, just maybe, if we watch this enough, they'll set the next one in the 305.
This city is just begging to be lampooned and besieged by sharks. We've been over this. Multiple times. Can't you just see it? Imagine Ian Ziering's Fin getting shark and lady advice from Mr. 305 himself. Our gorgeous news and weather people delivering updates. And you know Ron Magill's gotta turn up. Maybe if we vote with our wallets and go en masse, The Asylum and SyFy'll pay attention.
1. Hey. Even at $12.50 for a ticket plus drinks and popcorn, it'll be cheaper than anything else you were planning on doing tomorrow night.
For tickets and to find out which local theater is getting whacked by a Sharknado, visit FathomEvents.com.
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