As someone who has endured the swampy marshes and hurricane-prone dystopia of Florida, I can safely say that Crawl is not so much a complete work of fiction from two legendary horror veterans, but rather, a sort of worst-case scenario film which takes the dangers of hurricanes and alligators, and mashes them together.
For the uninitiated, Crawl, the next feature from director Alexandre Aja and producer Sam Raimi, doesn’t seem to have much in common with Piranha 3D. While Aja’s 2010 comedy horror was inherently silly and irreverent in its tone, it looks like his next feature is looking to play things a little straighter. Don’t get us wrong, it’s by no means a drama, but it’s definitely a step away from the sex-driven, piranha-infested, decade-old laugh fest.
If you’re worried that Aja’s newest film will tone things down in the violence department though, there’s absolutely no need to concern yourself. As reported by Bloody Disgusting, Crawl was recently rated by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and it’s been handed down an “R” rating for bloody creature violence and brief language. Personally, we’re pleased to see a movie which isn’t afraid to eschew needless nudity, though we’re hoping Aja doesn’t skimp on the gore and carnage.
For those unfamiliar with the premise, here’s a bit of a refresher. Taking place during a massive hurricane in Florida, Haley Keller (played by Kaya Scodelario) ignores evacuation orders, instead opting to search for her missing father, Barry. While she’s successful in finding him, the two quickly become trapped in their family home due to rising floodwaters, and before long, some killer crocs (err, alligators) are thrown into the mix.
With Sam Raimi producing, we’re hoping that Aja’s latest film holds up better than some of his past movies. Luckily, Crawl is scheduled to hit theaters on July 12th, so we won’t have to wait long to see how it fares.