Underwater is a science-fiction/action movie with some horror elements that takes place at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Directed by William Eubank (The Signal), it follows a group of research scientists and technicians that, after the destruction of their undersea lab, are forced to travel by foot across the ocean floor to safety. Principle cast includes Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, and T.J. Miller.
Two weeks later and I’ve already forgotten most about Underwater. Regardless of any talent attached to the script, this movie was destined to be disposable, at best. The main conflict between our protagonists and a swarm of generic deep sea creatures takes a back seat for most of the film to occupational hazards associated with escaping an imploding lab seven miles beneath the ocean. It’s this unique setting that ends up being the only truly unique and remotely interesting aspect of the film.
And even then, this greatest strength plays into one of the film’s greatest weaknesses. Because it takes place roughly 80% (or more) underwater (living up to the film’s generic title), a lot of the visuals are obscured by poor lighting, water blurring everything in front of the camera, or in most cases, both. Because of this, the experience of watching the film was frequently very frustrating and hard to follow. Not that anything interesting was likely happening, anyway.
It’s a shame that Underwater turned out as bland and uninspired as it did because you can tell that at least some point during the production of the film they really tried to make it look good. The scuba suits that the cast dons for the majority of the film might be my favorite fictional space/diving suits I have ever seen on screen. They look bulky, but in a realistic and functional way. The laboratory set looks similarly lived-in and practical. I only wish that we saw more of it before it was destroyed mere minutes into the film.
For all of the reasons mentioned above, Underwater could’ve been a decent 90-minute distraction but is ultimately unappealing to look at and even less engaging as a story. It’s not bad enough to be fun and not fun enough to be mindless entertainment.
5