10 essential ‘Jaws’ rip-offs that only exist because of Steven Spielberg
A local Jaws rip-off expert gave us a list of his ten favorites.
As we browse the hundreds of horror movies shelved in Somerville resident John Campopiano’s apartment, a title catches his eye. “I hid this one,’’ he says, handing me an old VHS tape. “Not sure you’ll want this in your article.’’
The film’s name? Ganjasaurus Rex. (Tagline: “Created by nature… Angered by man… Fueled by forbidden herbs…’’)
Strange as Ganjasaurus Rex may be, it’s hardly the weirdest film in Campopiano’s extensive collection, one that spans his entire living room. Among the many films we look at are one about a rubber, brain-like alien trying to take over the world via a television show and a rare local horror film made by students from Worcester in the 1980s about a killer refrigerator.
Campopiano has spent his entire life collecting everything related to horror movies, good and bad. Although he has posters, laser discs, and autographs related to every horror movie under the sun, his biggest collection is Jaws-related memorabilia.
It’s small, but we’re passionate, Campopiano said of the Jaws collector community. “The rip-off stuff is my own niche — it’s what I’m known for in the Jaws world.’’
Campopiano runs the Jaws Rip-Off Library Facebook page, a spot for fellow creature film aficionados to discuss all the latest in grade-A schlock. He also hosts a yearly event called Rip-Off Fest, where he curates a day’s worth of films while noting all the aspects in which the ripoffs ape Spielberg’s 1975 original.
“It’s been cool becoming an authority of sorts on the ‘nature runs amok’ genre,’’ Campopiano said. “It got to a point where people were sending me so many emails about ripoffs and rare films that I started the Facebook page to communicate with people all around the world.’’
With the 40th anniversary of Jaws only a few days away, we asked Campopiano to curate a list of 10 must-see Jaws ripoffs. Here’s his list, along with fun facts and analysis on each.
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