Underwater (2020)

Directed by: William Eubank | 95 minutes | action, horror | Actors: Kristen Stewart, Vincent Kassel, Mamoudou Athie, TJ Miller, John Gallagher Jr., Jessica Henwick, Gunner Wright, Fiona Rene, Amanda Troop

Deep beneath the ocean’s surface, a large-scale mining operation is hit by a mysterious earthquake. Mechanic Norah Price (Kristen Stewart) narrowly escapes death. Together with a small group of survivors, she desperately tries to find a way out before the entire structure collapses. A nearby drilling station may come to the rescue; only it requires a perilous journey in heavy suits across the ocean floor. But it’s not just the dangerous conditions of the underwater world that cause them trouble; an enormous deep-sea monster has also awakened from its sleep…

‘Underwater’ starts off promisingly. Norah’s escape creates the necessary tension in the first minutes of the film. The cramped setting works well and the viewer is presented with all kinds of questions. Unfortunately, after this, it soon becomes clear that the film doesn’t have much more to offer. ‘Underwater’ actually turns out to be a not-so-successful mix between Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien’ (1979) and Neil Marshall’s ‘The Descent’ (2005). Sometimes it seems as if director William Eubank is copying exact aspects of these films – certain references, some iconic moments, signature set pieces – it all seems very similar. They borrow generously from better films, while their own originality is almost completely absent.

The characters of ‘Underwater’ are also a problem. These characters are simply not interesting. This is partly due to the absence of an introduction that would normally introduce us to them. The film dives right into the action and as a result we learn nothing about the central characters and their normal daily lives. Moreover, they hardly have a perceptible personality, so that it does little for you as a viewer if someone is in mortal danger again. Kristen Stewart generally looks confused in her role and actor TJ Miller is almost unbearable as the prankster on board. Miller desperately tries to be witty as he clings to a plush rabbit throughout the film. Small children will undoubtedly find a grown man with a stuffed rabbit comical, but since they are not the target audience for this film, this is a very strange and distracting decision.

‘Underwater’ may still be worth watching if you’re a die-hard horror fan, but the average viewer will probably not enjoy this film. This is unfortunate and could have easily been prevented. For anyone in need of a similar viewing experience, the aforementioned ‘Alien’ and ‘The Descent’ are excellent alternatives. For the simple reason that those films are much more original.