Underwater (2020)
They awakened something in the deep.
Subgenre: Monster | Sci-Fi
Underlying Element: creatures | survival
Director: William Eubank
Synopsis:
This movie is about a group of survivors trying to escape the deepest territory underwater and facing unknown creatures on the ocean floor.
Analysis:
Underwater (2020) is a phobia-inducing ocean adventure with a few jump scares. There is nothing scarier than the unknown. Deep sea "creature feature" can be compared to outer space aliens. The only difference is that the ocean is darker, with no sun, stars, or planets to make the view bright and interesting. This movie gives that feeling of anxiety, knowing that we have a lot more to explore on earth.
The horror aspect comes from the idea of meddling with the unknown. The darkness of the ocean floor makes everything unpredictable. It also adds to the mystery of what the gigantic alien-looking creature looks like, since it's unclear with just the silhouette.
The only problem is the lack of character development and proper introduction. Since the movie starts with the station being destroyed, there was no time to introduce each key character, their relationship with each other, what they do in the drilling project, or get to know them as a person. It's just about their survival. Because of this, it's hard to relate to them beyond the terror of their situation.
The ending is good in the sense that it gives the viewers an idea of what happened after the events of the movie. Since there is an indication that the drilling continued and no confirmation that the creature was eradicated, it calls for a sequel, hopefully with an explanation of where these creatures come from and some backstory.
Overall, this movie is recommended for those who are into creatures and aliens, as well as disasters and survival.
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