I was specifically drawn to this film because of its title and the fact that it was Kristen Stewart who was on the poster. Plus, I thought it was high time I watched something a little horrifying as it's been like ages. The weather, on the other hand, was another factor, befitting for the genre I chose as rain pattered on the roof and window pane.
Underwater (2020), directed by William Eubank, dives into the terrifying unknown with a sci-fi thriller that literally goes straight to the bottom of the ocean and the top of suspense. I'm not really a fan of sci-fi but I couldn't help it with this one.
This movie isn’t about building a story; it’s about survival, right from the get-go. The plot centers on a group of underwater researchers who find themselves in a life or death battle when their deep sea drilling station is compromised. Let’s just say that being miles below sea level is about to become the least of their worries.
Synopsis
The movie introduces us to Norah (Kristen Stewart), a mechanical engineer who, along with a crew of scientists, faces a catastrophic explosion that destroys part of their underwater facility. With limited oxygen, scarce resources and a compromised route to the surface, the group must walk across the ocean floor to a distant, hopefully undamaged station. But as they make their way, they encounter a mysterious and terrifying underwater creature that has no intentions of letting them escape.
My Review and Rating
Underwater is a true adrenaline ride, leaning heavily into the horror-suspense vibe. Right from the beginning, it’s all intensity and claustrophobia as we’re thrown into the chaos alongside Norah. Trust me Kristen Stewart delivers a solid performance as she embodies a character who's tough but visibly terrified. There’s not a ton of character development here; it’s more of a survival-first, think-later experience, which is a unique way to deliver a horror story.
The cinematography deserves a shout out as it captures the pressure, darkness and suffocating feel of being miles beneath the surface. The monster design too, is intriguing, hinting at something Lovecraftian, but I will say that this film feels like it owes a lot to the likes of Alien or The Abyss. While it’s not necessarily a problem, it does mean the film has some very familiar beats.
It also kind of answered some of the questions I had in mind to ask any NASA official if I ever came in contact with one as to why they stopped exploring the ocean. A particular statement by Norah made a lot of sense and cleared my doubts in a way.
Where the film slightly falters is in its pace. It almost hits too fast. We get zero backstory before we’re plunged into chaos, and while that might be thrilling, it leaves little room for emotional connection with the characters. By the end, it’s hard to remember who survived, not because the film lacked action but because it lacked those meaningful pauses to catch our breath. Plus, the dialogue occasionally feels a bit forced; there's only so much breathless one-liner action you can handle before it starts to feel mechanical.
Underwater does exactly what it promises: relentless survival horror in an environment that is terrifyingly unique. It might not really break new ground but it has an atmosphere that makes it worth a watch.
That said, if you're in the mood for suspense and heart-pounding sequences without needing deep character arcs, this film should be on your list. I’d give it a 3/5. It’s tense, well-executed but could have used a bit more depth(pun intended).
