RATING: B+

Wild Eye Releasing presents a Polonia Bros. Entertainment production. Directed and edited by Mark Polonia. Produced by Rob Hauschild and Mark Polonia. Written by Aaron Drake. Cinematography by Paul Steele. 

Stars Tim Hatch, Jeff Kirkendall, Natalie Himmelberger, Kevin Coolidge, Titus Himmelberger, and Michael Korotitsch. 

From Mark Polonia comes this wild creature feature thats a sense of literal shock value to the film in the form of its titular monster.

A meteor has hit a small town beachside resort in California. When the meteor hits the ocean, it turns a floating octopus into an oversized monster. A local drunkard, Rockford, begins to notice the strange being but at first thinks it’s just a figment of his imagination. Meanwhile, the resort’s desk clerk begins to get calls about the meteor and ensures everyone that it is safe and there’s nothing to worry about.

Only that there is something to worry about. The infected octopus has not only overgrown but has begun to cause its victims to die of electrocution. Two mysterious agents, Meadows and Pickford, have arrived with the intent of investigating the recent wave of attacks. They learn that the incidents are not related to a fire on an oil rig weeks ago, but also notice the tentacle markings on one of the resort guests’ corpses. It is up to them to stop the “Shocktopus” before it’s too late. 

Mark Polonia is one of the greats when it comes to this generation’s world of micro-budgeted creature features alongside Dustin Ferguson and as of late, Robert Parham. His latest gives us an octopus who gives us a shocking treatment rather than shooting out squid ink and adds some interesting twists alongside some funny antics on behalf of our two potential heroes, these mysterious guys in matching top hats, shades, and trench coats. 

Tim Hatch and Jeff Kirkendall are funny together as Meadows and Pickford, as they play each other so well. They question each other at times, and for some reason, they are reminiscent of the Kipper Kids’ take on CIA agents in the 1990 time-travel comedy The Spirit of ‘76. Natalie Himmelberger’s hotel clerk is there mostly answering calls, and that’s pretty much the gist of it until the final act. The other major character involved is Michael Korotitsch’s drunkard Rockford, who constantly eyes the Shocktopus, with a twist of fate happening in the final act that affects him as well. 

The VXF, by Ray Willis, is quite impressive, making the most of its micro-budgeted CGI variety. The Shocktopus looks funny with its human-looking eyes and the kills are mostly that of the victims getting shocked and set on fire. In true Polonia fashion, they are fun to watch and gives off chuckles. 

Shocktopus follows the Mark Polonia formula of making the most of its microbudget and manages not to take itself seriously. In other words, it’s another fun popcorn film that is enjoyable in a B-movie kind of way.