Beyond the Reef Reviews

Dino De Laurentiis--producer of such classics as LA STRADA; BITTER RICE; and THE BIBLE, as well as such dogs as THE WHITE BUFFALO and WATERLOO--went to the South Seas, built a hotel to house his crew and cast, and shot two movies. One was the big-budget, big-star flop HURRICANE; the other was this inept boy-meets-shark tale, produced by Rafaella De Laurentiis. A tiger shark named Manidu guards a heap of sacred black pearls from outsiders, chomping on anyone who ventures too close to the holy cache. Young lovers Tikayo (Dayton Ka'ne) and Diana (Maren Jensen) overcome Manidu's taste for flesh, however, and establish a relationship with the beast. Despite its weak dialog and plot, BEYOND THE REEF is a surprisingly good-looking picture.