Shark thriller with Byron Bay ties hits the big screen

A MOVIE about a man-eating shark, partly filmed in the Byron Bay hinterland, has hit cinemas.

Set in 1942, Beast of War tells the gripping story of a group of soldiers stranded on a makeshift raft in the middle of the ocean after their ship is sunk by the Japanese during World War II. With limited supplies and no rescue in sight, the men must fight for survival — not just against the elements, but a giant great white shark.

While the shark scenes were filmed in a purpose-built water tank at Screen Queensland Studios in Brisbane, the film has strong local roots. Produced by Bangalow-based Blake Northfield, the movie also features scenes filmed at a property in Binna Burra last year, where the soldiers are shown undergoing boot camp training before heading to war.

 

“We shot the first two weeks there,” said Sydney-based actor Sam Delich, who plays one of the soldiers. “It kind of felt like the calm before the storm because it felt like a bit of a holiday before it all went down. We stayed in Byron but we were way out in the bush for a lot of it scrambling and climbing up hills.

“We did have a training day at Byron Bay Swimming Pool, which was interesting. They chucked us all into the pool in full military garb and swim laps and see who lasted the longest.

“I’d never been to Byron Bay before so just getting to explore the town was amazing, but also filming out on location. It has this quintessential Australianness to it.”

 

Delich, known for roles in the dark comedy Mr InBetween, the Netflix series Territory and Spiderhead alongside Chris Hemsworth, is enthusiastic about the film’s release. With a move to London on the horizon, he hopes the film will help propel his career to the next level.

“I watched it for the first time at the Melbourne International Film Festival and I was very surprised by it,” he said. “I think they really found the humour, which I’m stoked about. We weren’t sure if they were going to take it more in the horror direction than the comedy direction. It really leans into that Australian gallows humour.”

Beast of War is now screening at Palace Cinemas Byron Bay.