When Jaws came out in 1975, it created a genuine fear concerning going into the water. To capitalise on this new-found phobia, as well of course, the huge success it did at the box office, other film-makers were keen to dip their toes into these money-making waters.

King of the B-movies Roger Corman quickly threw a team together, including wet-behind-the-ears director Joe Dante, and John Sayles, who was making his debut as a screenplay writer. Quickly shot and cheaply made, Piranha is the result.

Whilst a young couple are backpacking through the woods, they come across a disused military installation. Curiosity gets the better of them, and they decide to break in and have a look around. Inside, they come across an inviting pool, in which they decide to cool off in. They never get out. The pool is full of a mutant strain of piranha that scientists had been meddling with, to use in military operations.

Having been missing awhile, investigator Maggie McKeown (Heather Menzies-Urich) is soon tracking them down, and with the help of local Paul (Bradford Dillman), the pair soon find themselves at the scene of the disappearance.

Maggie has an inkling that they might be in the pool and decides to empty it. Despite opposition from a raving scientist, who they manage to knock out, they drain it. When the scientist comes round however, he explains what a terrible thing they've done: emptying the pool has unleashed these snappy critters into the public river ways, which not only pass a children's summer camp – where Paul's own daughter is attending – but a new resort on the river is about to open its doors.

With time against them, Maggie and Paul attempt to spread the word about not going into the water, but for many, this warning comes far too late.

Swimmers were horrified to learn that it was more than just red dye that had been added to the pool to deter them from peeing in it.

Despite its obvious B-movie credentials, Piranha has aged remarkably well. At the time it was alleged that Spielberg declared it the best of the Jaws rip-offs, and that statement still holds true.

It's not so much the talent in front of the camera, but behind it that make the film work. Director Dante, who went on to direct Gremlins and Innerspace certainly makes the most of what little was clearly at his disposal. The effects, even by today's CGI standards, still don't look too shabby.

What also helped lift the film from above average B-Moviedom was Sayle's script, which is still surprisingly entertaining.

Make no mistake, Jaws is still the daddy of monsters from the deep. But when you consider the budgetary constraints of Piranha, these little feisty fishes still have some bite. Yes the story is completely hokey, but it only now adds to its fishy charm.