The Shark Net is an Australian TV mini-series that was broadcast in 2003. It was based on the book of the same name by Robert Drewe about growing up around the times of Eric Edgar Cooke's crimes. The story spans 14 years when Drewe was in Perth while Cooke committed 20 murders and was brought to trial.
The Shark Net was filmed in Perth with a budget around $5 million and featured a cast of 123 with over 1000 extras.
Amanda Keenan of The Australian wrote "The story progresses in a slow, measured way and may require a little perseverance -- much like the book -- but it is worth it.". Writing in the Age Barbara Hook says "<nowiki>[Ian]</nowiki> David extracts every moment of humour from The Shark Net, and it has a strong thread of criminal suspense going for it, but its self-conscious determination to be taken seriously as a literary work interferes with its entertainment value."