Deep Blue Sea: Still Among the Greatest Shark Movies 25 Years Later

Deep Blue Sea, a film about genetically enhanced sharks, continues to entertain audiences as an action-horror staple, even 25 years after its original release.

Directed by Renny Harlin, who has a varied career with hits like The Long Kiss Goodnight and Cliffhanger, and misses such as Cuthroat Island, Deep Blue Sea didn’t quite achieve the same level of acclaim as other 1999 blockbusters like The Mummy. However, among shark movies, it still holds a strong position.

The film centers on researchers at an underwater facility attempting to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease by studying the regenerative properties of shark brains. Facing financial constraints, the project’s overseer, Russell Franklin (played by Samuel L. Jackson), visits to evaluate their progress.

The researchers, portrayed by Stellan Skarsgard and Saffron Burrows, have succeeded in making significant advancements by doping the sharks. This has made the Mako sharks not only larger and quicker but also smarter. When a violent storm and a terrible accident occur, the intelligent sharks seize the opportunity to escape and prey on the facility’s crew. The crew faces a stark choice: reach the surface, drown, or be eaten.

Like many attempts in the shark movie genre, Deep Blue Sea contends with the high bar set by classics like Jaws. The inability to recreate the fear and awe of Spielberg’s 1975 masterpiece is a common downfall. Despite this, Deep Blue Sea manages to retain its charm by effectively playing on the fear of the unknown lurking beneath the ocean’s surface.

Although the movie occasionally drifts into caricature, especially with its portrayal of sharks’ behaviors (partially justified by their enhanced abilities), it successfully capitalizes on the primal fear of the deep sea and its inhabitants. The underwater scenes, wherein the human characters are at the mercy of the sharks, are filled with tension, particularly in open waters where Thomas Jane’s character, Carter Blake, daringly confronts the predatory creatures.

One specific moment elicits genuine dread, not through direct horror but by highlighting the vastness and unknown nature of the sea. As Carter navigates a mesh tunnel in the facility’s isolated section, the camera expansively captures the surrounding blue abyss, emphasizing the feeling of vulnerability and insignificance. It’s these instances, coupled with an excellent use of spatial awareness, that make the movie effective and leave a lasting impact on viewers with thalassophobia.

Deep Blue Sea also incorporates elements typical of disaster movies. Following the shark-induced chaos, the underwater facility begins to flood and collapse. The crew encounters numerous dangerous scenarios as they strive to reach the surface while the sharks continue to hunt them. This disaster element infuses a dynamic angle that bolsters the monster movie framework, creating a captivating setting for the unfolding drama.

The movie benefits from a clear and consistent focus, akin to that of a predator. Once the preliminary setup is out of the way, the film dives straight into the action, pitting humans against sharks and against the crumbling facility. This straightforward approach ensures a sustained adrenaline rush, offering over an hour of pure entertainment.

In the backdrop of contemporary cinema, films like Deep Blue Sea are becoming increasingly rare. While numerous low-budget homages to the action-horror genre exist, and the sequels to Deep Blue Sea have not lived up to their predecessor, there’s a distinct charm to the original. It may lack the polished bravado of The Mummy, but it stands out as its own brand of enthralling, popcorn-filled experience.

Source: ComingSoon.net