Review: 'Grizzly' is More Than 'Jaws' With Claws

After "Jaws" made people never want to go into the water again, William Girdler's "Grizzly" attempted to make people never want to go into the woods. Originally criticized for hewing too closely to Spielberg's classic shark movie, Girdler's take on "Jaws with claws" became one of the most successful independent horror films ever made when it was released. That doesn't account for the lack of quality, but it goes to show you how Girdler and infamous distribution company Film Ventures International were able to turn out a rip-off that was marketed as such, and still made a ton of money.

Severin Films brings "Grizzly" to Blu-ray with a new 2K restoration pulled from the original interpositive that looks quite a bit better than the previous 2015 and 2018 Blu-ray releases by Scorpion Releasing. Detail levels are definitely increased, and grain structure looks much better, which should be enough for fans of the film to seek out this new edition. And even though there are more than a few nicks and scratches in this presentation, the overall picture looks quite nice. Add in a slew of special features created specifically for this release, and you have another great edition from Severin Films.

"Grizzly" follows park ranger Michael Kelly (Christopher George) as he races against time to prevent an eighteen-foot-tall, man-eating grizzly bear from wreaking havoc on a national forest. Unfortunately, it's hunting season and all the drunk hunters out and about are not helping.

I hesitate to even call "Grizzly" a resourceful movie, as many of its effects and plot devices feel torn directly from the handbook that "Jaws" created. Yet, it's certain brand of ineptitude is more than entertainment enough. Watch as Christopher George, Richard Jaeckel, Andrew Pine, and other genre actors slum it up in a harebrained story, but enjoy the bear attack sequences that are so much more violent than the film's PG rating would lead you to believe. Again, this not an endorsement of the film by any means, but it's very clear that this film was made to play the exploitation circuit and it's kind of a miracle that it made such an impact.

Rounding out the terrific video and audio presentations is a set of special features that dig deep into the legacy of William Girdler and Film Ventures International. There's an in-depth interview with author Stephen Thrower about Girdler's life and career that's filled with information. If you're a fan of man-versus-nature films, "Grizzly" holds a special place in the genre even though it's not the most successful work. Props to Severin Films for not only releasing the film on Blu-ray again, but also bringing a bunch of goodies to go with it.

Other special features include:

� "Making Movies with Girdler" – audio interview
� "The Towering Fury" – interview with actor Tom Arcuragi
� "The Grizzly Details" – interview with producer David Sheldon and actress Joan McCall
� "Movie Making in the Wilderness" – vintage featurette
� "Jaws with Claws" – vintage featurette
� Radio spots
� Trailers
� Audio Commentary with Mondo Digital's Nathaniel Thompson and film writer Troy Howarth
� Audio Commentary with producer David Sheldon and actress Joan McCall

"Grizzly" is now available on Blu-ray from Severin Films.