Renny Harlin's disaster movie 'Deep Water' delivers exactly what it promises: a plane crash in shark-infested waters, with survivors fighting for their lives. The film, starring Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley as pilots, knows its genre well, paying homage to classics like 'Jaws' and 'The Poseidon Adventure'.
Plot and Characters
The story follows an American plane full of minor movie stars that crashes into the ocean. Passengers include a schlubby, obnoxious chain-smoker (Angus Sampson, a hoot), a pair of e-sports teammates (Li Wenhan and Zhao Simei), a flight attendant (Nashi), and a nerdy nice guy (Richard Crouchley). The film plays existential roulette, randomly killing off nice and nasty people alike, keeping viewers guessing who will survive.
Action and Direction
Director Renny Harlin, known for 'Cliffhanger' and 'Deep Blue Sea', excels at kinetic action sequences. The plane crash is a standout, with people sucked out of holes in the hull and surging seawater. Harlin wisely shows just enough of the sharks—grey fins and backlit silhouettes—to keep them menacing without overexposure.
Cast and Performances
Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley bring star power as the pilots, though their survival odds follow cinematic laws. Angus Sampson provides comic relief as the obnoxious passenger viewers love to hate. The dialogue, written by seven credited screenwriters, is cliché-ridden, but the film's energy compensates.
'Deep Water' is on digital platforms from 20 July. It's a solid disaster movie that scratches the itch for suspense, sentimentality, and schadenfreude.
