A low-budget creature movie that turns out to be a blast. William Girdler directed Grizzly, which was written by Harvey Flaxman & David Sheldon and stars Christopher George, Andrew Prine & Richard Jaeckel. The story involves a giant grizzly bear attacking campers and hikers in a state park. The lead park ranger tries to trap and kill the animal but faces opposition from his boss and is frustrated by the arrival of numerous hunters seeking fame. Surprisingly, Grizzly was a huge success in 1976, earning over $39 million worldwide after costing just $750,000 to produce. It's certainly inspired by "Jaws" (and it doesn’t hide that), but William Girdler & David Sheldon recognized an opportunity and seized it with a lot of blood, gore, and ferocious roars. The film was among the first wave of “Jaws” imitators, and while it can be silly at times and features some poor acting, it remains one of the most beloved cult horror films from the 1970s. Filmed on location in Clayton, Georgia, Girdler’s movie understands its purpose. It avoids unnecessary exposition, and everyone involved knows that the bear is the main attraction – specifically, the bear ripping people apart. The characters—with the exception of the hero (George) & a wise naturalist (Jaeckel)—are mostly annoying and seem eager to become either bear food or be proven wrong. And it’s genuinely entertaining. It's one of those movies that terrified us as children but now makes us laugh as adults. The film has been popular enough over the years to warrant a two-disc DVD release, something you might expect for a critically acclaimed masterpiece! The movie is presented in a very nice anamorphic widescreen format (2.35:1), and Girdler's (and cinematographer William Asman’s) filming around Clayton looks quite good. You can see the limitations of the budget—the editing and lighting aren’t perfect, and the blood effects are noticeable—but overall, Grizzly is visually appealing. The second disc contains several extras, including a fun featurette called "Jaws With Claws," which shows the filmmakers taking the whole thing with a sense of humor. It's a must-have for fans of low-budget creature features who enjoy a bit of camp. Those seeking something like “Alien” or “Gorilla’s In The Midst,” however, should look elsewhere. I’ll give the film itself a 6.5/10 and the Shriek Show's smart two-disc DVD package a 7/10.

Source on TMDB