As a huge fan of cheesy horror-comedies, I was thrilled when the wave of “cocaine animal” movies hit the scene in 2023. The absurdity and silliness of these films were right up my alley, with “Cocaine Bear” leading the charge as a standout hit. But nothing could have prepared me for the recent news that sharks off the coast of Brazil have been found to contain high levels of cocaine in their muscle tissue.
The cinematic success of the horror-comedy Cocaine Bear became responsible for many copy-cat movies featuring beasts of the animal kingdom getting high and going on various rampages across cities, swamps and even out in the ocean. However, one of those movies, Cocaine Shark, has made a surprising leap from the screen to real-world newsreels, as it seems sharks off the coast of Brazil are testing positive for the Class-A drug.
As a gamer, I’d say: The “Cocaine Shark” tale sounds outrageous and over-the-top, with fish transforming into lethal predators following a lab explosion. The resulting film is chock-full of cheap CGI effects that can be easily created online these days. It’s pure entertainment for those who enjoy so-called “bad” movies. But the news that all 13 sharpnose sharks used in research by Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation tested positive for cocaine levels up to 100 times higher than other studies is no laughing matter. It’s a grim reminder of how humans can negatively impact the natural world.
New research reveals that sharks living near Florida and in the waters of Central and South America have been found to contain drugs in their bodies, based on a recent study of 13 captured specimens. Muscle and liver samples from these sharks showed significant amounts of drugs, with muscle tissue exhibiting particularly high levels. The report does not yet explain how these drugs affect the sharks, leaving that aspect of the research undetermined.
Cocaine Animal Movies Became Big Business in 2023
In 2023, there was an unusual trend in low-budget horror films: those featuring wild animals encountering drugs like cocaine gained widespread popularity. This craze was sparked by the massive success of Elizabeth Banks’ movie, “Cocaine Bear.” Shortly after its release, numerous titles such as “Meth-Gator,” “Crackcoon,” and “Cocaine Shark” emerged on VOD and streaming services in large numbers.
As a fan, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the entertaining horror ride that was “Cocaine Bear.” Despite its far-fetched premise, it managed to hold my attention. However, as more films in this vein emerged, they began to feel increasingly absurd. Among these, “Cocaine Shark” stood out a bit, although it only received the attention of three Rotten Tomatoes critics, one of whom gave it a favorable review. For viewers, the film earned a respectable 50% approval rating, which might not seem impressive at first glance, but in comparison to the dismal single-figure scores that plagued many similar movies, it was practically award-worthy.
The hype surrounding “Cocaine” films appears to have waned after a year, but there was once a possibility that “Cocaine Bear” could have a follow-up. It remains uncertain if this will come to fruition or not. However, it seems that the real world is providing an alternative to the decreasing number of such movies by offering its own animal-themed version of “Trainspotting.”
Cocaine Shark
is currently streaming on Hoopla and Tubi.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-07-24 03:32