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It’s Been 5 Years Since the ‘Jaws’ Ride Shut Down; Universal Orlando Pays Tribute
We’re gonna need a bigger box of tissues.
Having experienced its awesomeness firsthand on a trip to Universal Studios with my dad over a decade ago, I was incredibly saddened by the 2011 news that Universal Orlando would be dismantling the iconic Jaws ride to make room for a new attraction. The ride’s final voyage took place on January 2nd, 2012, and now five years later, the park is paying tribute to the coolest ride ever with an “in memoriam” video that may make you cry. No really. You might.
The Jaws ride was launched on June 7th, 1990, and for over twenty years it terrified park-goers by literally putting them inside the 1975 classic. The boat tour took you through Amity Harbor, where a hungry shark was of course waiting. At several points during the ride, the mechanical shark would leap out of the water and attack the boat, making for a wet and terrifying experience.
Today, the Harry Potter-themed Diagon Alley occupies the space that was once Amity Island. But though the ride may be gone, Universal certainly hasn’t forgotten it. If you prowl around Diagon Alley you will spot many tributes to the Jaws ride, including shrunken heads that sing “Show Me the Way to Go Home” and a record on display in a shop window from the faux band ‘The Quint Trio.’ Coolest of all, an open-mouthed shark that used to be at the entrance of the Jaws ride can still be found hanging around in the park, now located in the San Francisco-inspired area.
Grab a tissue and watch Universal Orlando’s touching tribute below.
While you wait for Alien: Romulus, the folks over at Devilworks have cooked up their own slice of “mockbuster” fun with Alien Hunt, and we’re debuting the trailer here on BD this morning.
This brand-new sci-fi horror from director Aaron Mirtes (The Bigfoot Trap, Painted in Blood) is set for its US premiere on May 14, and you can find it on digital thanks to Devilworks.
You can exclusively watch the official trailer for Alien Hunt below, which looks to combine elements of Alien and Predator. This particular “mockbuster” has very little interest in hiding its inspirations, with the alien designs plucked straight out of H.R. Giger’s beautiful brain. Hey, if you’re going to pull from other movies, might as well take from the all-time greats!
In Alien Hunt, “On a hunting trip in the wilderness, a group of siblings discovers an abandoned military outpost on their land, but is it what it seems?
“Their trip takes a sinister turn when they find themselves facing off against a relentless army of extra-terrestrial beings. Suddenly, the hunters become the hunted.
“The formidable squad of alien soldiers will stop at nothing to wipe out the enemy and in an all-out, brutal battle for survival, it’s kill or be killed in Alien Hunt.”
Barron Boedecker (Escape Pod, The Bigfoot Trap), Brent Bentley (The Perfect In-Laws, Haunt Season), Deiondre Teagle (The Visitor, Painted in Blood, Death Ranch), Chelsey Fuller (The Bigfoot Trap, The Silent Natural), Jesse Santoyo (A Nashville Country Christmas, Potter’s Ground), and Adam Pietripaoli (The Bigfoot Trap, The OctoGames) star.
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