Print Topic

SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Movie, Television and DVD Reviews  /  47 Meters Down - 2017
Posted by: Dreamscale (Guest), June 24th, 2017, 12:29pm
So, let's get this out of the way first...I like shark movies...always have, probably always will.

Is this a great shark movie?  No, definitely not.  Is it a decent to good shark movie?  Yep, I'd say so.

Plot is as simple as they come.  Setup is weak and for me, characters are all rather weak and forgettable.

When things start happening, they happen very abruptly...too abruptly for me.  I would have liked a little more lead in time and more of a reason for the malfunction, which causes the peril.

Once underwater, we stay there, for what seems like a long time, although the entire runtime here is under 90 minutes.  I wish there had been some crosscutting back up to the surface, but I also understand why they chose not to do this.

Sharks look great.  There is definite dread here and the situation is very bleak.

But then, as you may have heard, there is a twist, which I won't reveal, that kind of worked, but then again, was kind of hamfisted in and also kind of "obvious", if you were paying attention.  The sad thing is that this rather lengthy scene is the best in the movie, but when it's over, it's one of those love it or hate it type of things.

The ending is extremely weak, as the movie literally just ends...and IMO, some follow up would have been nice.

You can do much worse with 90 minutes of your life and if you enjoy these types of survival nature horror. in this regard, with giant, hungry, killer Great White sharks, I think you'll leave the theater on a positive note.

Grade - B-/C+
Posted by: Sham, June 24th, 2017, 10:52pm; Reply: 1
I saw this back when it was supposed to be a straight-to-DVD/VOD release. I had not seen any promotional stills or trailers before watching it, so I literally went in not knowing what to expect.

I bit my nails so hard watching this movie, my finger bled. It was that intense for me.

Now, had I waited to see this in theaters and had my experience spoiled by the over-bloated trailers, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. So I'm thankful I saw the film when I did.

I still can't get that scene out of my head where one of the sisters leaves the cage and forgets her way back.

I agree the ending is a love/hate thing -- you can see it coming, but I will give the director credit for dragging it out for so long, you start to second guess it actually happening.

I would like to see this on the big screen, though. Just to hear that phenomenal score again. Whether or not you like the ending, you can't deny the music accompanying it is breathtakingly good.
Posted by: TonyDionisio, June 25th, 2017, 8:59am; Reply: 2
I'll definitely check this out. I liked the last shark movie I saw, with the hot chick on the buoy --  forgot the name. Mostly liked it because I wasn't expecting much at all and got more than I expected. Plus, there was the hot chick part too!
Print page generated: April 29th, 2024, 2:23am