After a few days of screening short films for the Academy Award-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival coming up next month, I was in need of a cinematic palate cleanser. 

Welcome to Bears on a Ship.

If you don't know what you're getting from Bears on a Ship, you're not paying attention. Undeniably a spiritual soul sister to the Samuel L. Jackson-led Snakes on a Plane, though for my money I'd take this creature feature anytime, Bears on a Ship isn't a great film but it sure is a fun one. Where Bears on a Ship succeeds, even moreso than Snakes on a Plane, is that writer/director Eduardo Castrillo knows exactly what he's making here and he leans into it hard with an ensemble cast that is more than game to bring this motherfu**er to life. 

The story, not that it really matters a heck of a lot, opens with a couple of hunters in search of a couple of ever-elusive bears. Things don't go quite as planned, though they go well enough to flash forward to a motley cruise ship with two captive bears and a handful of tourists desperate to get him despite an airline strike that severely altered their plans and left them willing to jump aboard this ship that would likely scare the crap out of Gilligan. 

And nothing scares Gilligan. 

For the most part, you know the story from here. 

At a mere 73-minutes, Bears on a Ship has such a fun ensemble that I found myself rushing over to IMDB to check out their filmographies. While no one here's a household name and there's likely no future Oscar winners in the mix, these folks are an absolute blast with Jonez Cain being particularly impressive as a kind-hearted nurse with a healthy dose of B-movie badassery. Erin Nolan kept reminding me of Airplane's Julie Hagerty (that's a major compliment, by the way), and Sherill Quinn is also a blast here. 

Lensing by Benjamin Dennis is honestly a pleasant  surprise. While obviously working within the constraints of a low-budget flick, Dennis makes the most of it all here and gives the film a retro-vibed, immersive feel that makes you feel like you're a lot closer to these bears than you want to be. Tony Solomon's original score amplifies that retro atmosphere and gives the film both humor and a few chills. 

Of course, Castrillo's the maestro here and this is his B-movie symphony. While Bears on a Plane won't work for everyone, Castrillo knows what he's making here and he plays all the right notes from beginning to end. For those who dig the horror side of creature features and who vibe with the world of low-budget indie horror, these motherfu**ing bears on this motherfu**ing ship are a motherfu**ing must see. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic