This throwback to 1950s B-movies is knowingly ludicrous, mindless entertainment from writer/director Eric Forsberg, who’s penned other shameless treats such as Snakes On A Train.

In a nod to last year’s farce, Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus, which starred 1980s pop star Debbie Gibson, ex-teen idol Tiffany plays a scientist responsible for a bizarre breed of mutant piranha.

When a US diplomat (played by Forsberg) is killed on a boat trip up Venezuela’s Orinoco River, the special forces agent sent to investigate (Paul Logan from Vampire In Vegas) discovers that he was offed by man-eating fish, which are reproducing and growing at an alarming rate.

The first attempt at destroying them goes tits-up, leaving it to Tiffany and co to prevent the aquatic flesh-munchers from reaching the ocean while being hindered by a mob of corrupt South American soldiers.

Mega Piranha is aimed at people who prefer their creature features to be more stupid than slick. It’s an action-packed, sugar-rush frenzy of illogical storytelling, hammy performances and hilarious effects – using models, shadow puppetry and mediocre CGI.

The silliness includes SUV-sized piranhas leaping out of the water to swallow humans whole, crashing into high-rise buildings, and biting a helicopter from the sky. Forsberg obviously set out to make entertainment that guiltily pleases, and he succeeded.

Billy Chainsaw