Connect with us

News

“47 Meters Down” Review: Invigorates The Shark Attack Sub-Genre

Published

on

When it comes to horror movies, one of the age old problems of the genre is ‘why don’t the characters just leave?’ Numerous films have managed to find clever ways and scenarios to keep their potential victims trapped, such as ALIEN being set in an isolated spaceship or THE SHINING being in a snowbound hotel. But perhaps one of the more difficult scenarios to keep interesting has been shark attack movies. Sharks are only scary if you’re in the water with them, after all. JAWS mainly had a conflict with the shark due to tourists being eaten being bad for beach business. Now, 47 METERS DOWN gives a plausible and outright terrifying scenario to be swimming with the fishes.

The story follows Lisa (Mandy Moore) and Kate (Claire Holt), sisters looking for some adventure on the Mexican coast in the wake of Lisa’s boyfriend leaving her. Talking with some local guys, the more reckless Kate suggests they take them up on an offer to go cage diving with real live great white sharks. Though reluctant, Lisa joins the venture. The siblings taking the not quite tourism board approved boat out to sea, stepping in a rusty cage, and dropped into the deep. Their guides promising a big show thanks to some well placed chum. What was sure to be a vacation memory of a lifetime turns into a nightmare when the winch breaks and they find themselves plunged 47 meters below the ocean’s surface. Running low on air, surrounded by predatory sharks, and having to be careful about getting the dreaded ‘bends’ Kate and Lisa must find a way to survive.

Sometimes the most simple premise can be the most intriguing, and 47 METERS DOWN is proof. Two divers stuck in a cage and sharks. The backstory involving Kate and Lisa’s trip doesn’t drag on too long, and a majority of the movie is implicitly underwater, making for some beautiful and threatening cinematography. It’s almost like the sisters are in space with how open yet desolate their environment is. Never known whether a shark will swoop in from above, from below, or from behind to take a bite. Tension is built up quite well in that regard, and also that sharks are only one of the many dangers Lisa and Kate face.

Along with cinema’s greatest aquatic predator, they have to watch their air supply, their wounds, and maintain their pressure. For if they ascend the surface too fast, nitrogen bubbles in their bodies will kill them. Things play out like a classic disaster movie based on Murphy’s law, where anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Another interesting aspect of the story being that both divers are equipped with equipment that also allows them to communicate with one another via radio. Also keeping them in touch with the captain above… but they have to ascend several meters in the murky waters to make contact. Creating danger with every action.

Mandy Moore and Claire Holt work well together as sisters, and they make their fear of the danger, and in particular the sharks, quite believable. And since for the most part we’re following their underwater struggle, it’s a major focus of the story.

Though a strong concept and great pacing, the movie does falter in several spots. The dialogue felt rather wooden and weak in a lot of places. Many times Lisa or Kate will say over and over again how scared they are… as if it wasn’t implicit enough that being chased by sharks or marooned at the bottom of the ocean wasn’t already. As well as becoming repetitive. The pacing was pretty good for a thriller, but would probably turn away someone looking for an adrenaline rush. The ending was pretty interesting and different, but at the same time felt a bit too abrupt and maybe annoying to some. While the FX were for the most part pretty well done, there are more than a few times that the sharks look just a little ‘too’ computer generated.

Despite its flaws, 47 METERS DOWN manages to be a decent and unique thriller. Since every Summer needs a shark movie, and if you’re looking for some seasonal horror, this is well worth a watch.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

Childhood Memories Collide in New Horror Film ‘Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble’

Published

on

It looks like ITN Studious and Jagged Edge Productions are going the Avengers: Infinity War route with their upcoming film Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. From the deranged mind of Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey) comes this belligerent mash up of beloved childhood icons.

According to an article out of Variety today, Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will consist of Winnie the Pooh, Bambi, Tinkerbell, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Tigger, Piglet, The Mad Hatter, and Sleeping Beauty. All of these iconic figured will be warped into nightmarish versions of their former selves. Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble is set to be released upon the world sometime in 2025.

Poohniverse

Actor-producer Scott Chambers (Malevolent) had the following to say about Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. “As horror fans, we would love an Avengers that is all villains. It’d have Freddy Krueger, Jason, ‘Halloween,’ ‘Scream,’ all of those. Obviously that will never happen, but we can make it happen in our own little way, and that’s where this film has been born.”

Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will be a part of The Twisted Childhood Universe. Just like the MCU, each character will first get a standalone film. After introductions are made, they will be reunited in an Avengers style film. Although they will be killing off the survivors from the previous films, they won’t be working together.

Chambers describes this as an “epic sequences of monster vs. monster.” And I don’t know what more fans could ask of the studio. This fantastical idea is a huge risk but Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble sounds amazing.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Check back here for more updates on Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. If you haven’t already, check out the trailer for Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 below.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

Blumhouse’s ‘The Wolf Man’ Reboot Kicks Off Production with Leigh Whannell at the Helm

Published

on

Blumhouse Productions has officially commenced filming its reboot of the Universal Monsters legend, “Wolf Man”. Under the direction of Leigh Whannell, known for his acclaimed work on “The Invisible Man” (2020), the project promises to breathe new life into the iconic tale. The film is slated for a theatrical release on October 25th, marking a new chapter in the storied franchise.

Wolf Man

The journey of a “Wolf Man” reboot began in 2020 when actor Ryan Gosling presented a fresh take on the classic story to Universal. This concept quickly evolved into a screenplay crafted by the talented duo Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, who are known for their work on “Orange Is the New Black,” alongside contributions from Whannell and Corbett Tuck. The narrative is set in contemporary times, drawing inspiration from the atmospheric tension of Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Nightcrawler,” albeit with a distinct supernatural twist.

The film has seen its share of directorial and casting shifts, with Whannell initially signing on to direct in 2020, only to step away and then return to the project after Ryan Gosling and director Derek Cianfrance exited. The lead roles have been filled by Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, both of whom bring significant talent to the screen. Abbott portrays a man whose family faces the terror of a lethal predator, with Garner likely playing his wife, sharing in the familial peril. The storyline also hints at a daughter named Ginger, adding a layer of depth to the family’s harrowing experience.

Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott

This reboot represents a collaboration between Blumhouse and Motel Movies, with Jason Blum producing. Ryan Gosling remains involved as an executive producer, alongside Ken Kao, Bea Sequeira, Mel Turner, and Whannell himself. The announcement of the film’s production start was made by Jason Blum, who shared an exciting glimpse of Whannell on set, signaling the beginning of what is hoped to be a memorable addition to the horror genre.

As the “Wolf Man” reboot moves forward, fans and newcomers alike are eager to see how this modern interpretation will pay homage to its roots while offering a fresh and thrilling experience. With a talented cast and crew at the helm, the film is poised to reintroduce the timeless tale of transformation and terror to a new generation.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Games

‘Immaculate’ Stars Reveal Which Horror Villains They Would “F, Marry, Kill”

Published

on

Sydney Sweeney is just coming off the success of her rom-com Anyone But You, but she’s ditching the love story for a horror story in her latest film Immaculate.

Sweeney is taking Hollywood by storm, portraying everything from a love-lusting teenager in Euphoria to an accidental superhero in Madame Web. Although the latter got a lot of hate among theater-goers, Immaculate is getting the polar opposite.

The film was screened at SXSW this past week and was well-received. It also gained a reputation for being extremely gory. Derek Smith of Slant says the, “final act contains some of the most twisted, gory violence this particular subgenre of horror has seen in years…”

Thankfully curious horror movie fans won’t have to wait long to see for themselves what Smith is talking about as Immaculate will hit theaters across the United States on March, 22.

Bloody Disgusting says that the movie’s distributor NEON, in a bit of marketing smarts, had stars Sydney Sweeney and Simona Tabasco play a game of “F, Marry, Kill” in which all their choices had to be horror movie villains.

It’s an interesting question, and you might be surprised at their answers. So colorful are their responses that YouTube slapped an age-restricted rating on the video.

Immaculate is a religious horror movie that NEON says stars Sweeney, “as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.”

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Horror Movie Reaction Video