Grizzly

An 18-foot grizzly bear stalks a National Forest, killing and eating anything and anyone it comes upon. Only Chief Ranger Michael Kelly stands a chance against the monstrous killing machine. Grizzly, possibly one of the earliest Jaws rip-offs, plays like a slasher. The bear is mostly “seen” through POV shots and there are some kills that would be replicated, years later, in various Friday the 13th films. Though far from a critical darling in its time, Grizzly held the box office record for top grossing independent film until Halloween’s release in 1978. The independent nature of the production means that some of the film plays out like an extended episode of The Six Million Dollar Man but it also allows for some surprisingly violent sequences, including a scene where a young boy is brutally maimed by the grizzly.

Rating: 70%

(Image from Wikipedia)