Film Review – Deep Water (2026)

      **Deep Water, 2026.**

      **Directed by Renny Harlin.**

      **Cast:** Aaron Eckhart, Molly Belle Wright, Kelly Gale, Ben Kingsley, Angus Sampson, Rosie Zhao, Richard Crouchley, Rob Kipa-Williams, Mark Hadlow, Lakota Johnson, Madeleine West, Ryan Bown, Rarmian Newton, Lucy Barrett, Michael Cardelle, John De Luca, Sonia Dorado, Kate Fitzpatrick, Jacqueline Lee Geurts, Li Wenhan, and Tony Zhou.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      An international group of passengers traveling from Los Angeles to Shanghai must make an emergency landing in waters infested with sharks. They are forced to collaborate to survive the chaos created by the sharks attracted to the wreckage.

      In today’s landscape, the shark film sub-genre has become an arena for absurdity, with filmmakers striving to outdo each other. Given that these films are usually inexpensive to produce, the appeal is understandable. However, in **Deep Water**, director Renny Harlin, collaborating with screenwriters Pete Bridges, Shayne Armstrong, S.P. Krause, Damien Power, and John Kim, delivers a refreshingly grounded narrative that emphasizes character, even if they remain somewhat static by the film’s conclusion.

      On the plus side, the initial engine failure and subsequent plane crash into the ocean—though absurd and reminiscent of a **Final Destination** scenario—are depicted in a brutally intense manner, with sharp debris flying and wounding terrified passengers just trying to breathe and stay secure amid the turbulence.

      When the remaining characters confront a shark attack, the scene is similarly intense, focusing on the grim reality of the threat rather than leveraging the situation for humor, fulfilling anticipation as characters fall victim one by one. The sole exception is a clumsy character (Angus Sampson), whose actions lead to the plane's demise and who repeatedly disobeys orders, evoking excitement over when he will meet his fate. This choice to include at least one character we’re eager to see be consumed by a shark is a clever decision.

      In essence, **Deep Water** also illustrates that Renny Harlin still possesses directorial talent, suggesting that his previous experience with **The Strangers** (which didn’t warrant a trilogy) was more a matter of circumstance than skill. While the film does feature an abundance of characters—some with distinct traits and abilities that seem set for use in survival but ultimately don't contribute, with certain individuals sidelined until the finale—it occasionally attempts to evoke emotional reactions that feel somewhat forced. Nevertheless, it's refreshing to see filmmakers reinject genuine fear into a subgenre often associated with ridiculousness.

      Additionally, **Deep Water** marks a welcome return for Aaron Eckhart, who appears genuinely engaged in his role as a cockpit crew member responsible for helping the pilot (Ben Kingsley) maintain a safe flight path. Among the passengers, the character with the most screen time is a headstrong young girl (Molly Belle Wright), who frequently disobeys her parents and resists bonding with her stepbrother, refusing to acknowledge him as family. There’s also a worried grandmother (Kate Fitzpatrick) concerned about seeing her grandchildren again.

      The theme of family persists throughout, as Eckhart’s crew member, who takes charge of the survival efforts, is depicted as estranged from his own family, with predictable baggage revealed by the end. The film introduces a pair of esports gamers (Tony Zhou and Li Wenhan), with one too shy to admit his feelings, leading to a wish that the filmmakers could have capitalized on the teamwork essential in gaming to inform their survival strategies rather than just presenting them as individuals. Additionally, various flight crew members are depicted as they strive to survive while caring for others. The family of the aforementioned girl is also portrayed as separated, searching for one another, accompanied by hotheaded characters who could erupt into rebellion at any moment.

      While the character development is a commendable effort, **Deep Water** compensates for its shortcomings with skillfully executed, tense sequences that typically involve characters navigating through floating metal debris in search of lifeboats or loved ones. The gore, when a shark attacks, aims for realistic brutality rather than excessive violence. Despite its abundance of characters and clichés, a few emotional moments do resonate. The balance of effective elements versus ineffective ones varies significantly, but the film more often manages to stay afloat than not.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★**

      *Robert Kojder*