It is no Jaws, but it can be a thrilling 90 minutes that make you reconsider your next diving trip.
read more
Let’s set our expectations straight here. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged is a B-movie. The CGI sharks look fake; the acting is not praiseworthy; there is an overreliance on jump scares; the plot is shallow. Nevertheless, fans of shark slasher films might just enjoy this film anyway.
Although it is created by the same director and writers as its prequel 47 Meters Down, the two films share little apart from its premise. Those who have not watched the first film will not miss out on anything. If you have watched the first one, though, this film has more sharks, more characters (read: shark fodders), and an intriguing new undersea setting that looks genuinely eerie.
Being an underwater survival horror film has its plot advantages. It is often easy to blame characters who love wandering off instead of staying put to wait for help. In this case, oxygen is depleting while they are trapped in a submerged archaeological ruin that few people know of. Therefore, it seems logical to keep exploring an unfamiliar territory despite the risks.
Despite that, the film’s plot holes also come from being set underwater. It is difficult to believe that our protagonists, who are diving without fins, can outrun a great white shark at any point. All of them can be easily killed off within minutes. Instead, the shark has a convenient habit of disappearing after chomping someone down, only to reappear when the script calls for it. Also, the shark is blind but it does not seem to affect who gets attacked first.
It also does not help the film that the exposition in the first 30 minutes of the film feels overly long. It is supposed to make us care about the stepsisters Mia (Sophie Nélisse) and Sasha (Corinne Fox). However, wooden acting and awkward dialogues prevent the audience from empathising with them. There is also an unnecessary subplot of Mia’s bullying that never really paid off.
The film does have a few decent action scenes, mainly towards the end. The last 10 minutes of the film would certainly keep you at the edge of your seat. Although the film truly needs suspension of disbelief to enjoy, it has enough scares and tension to prevent boredom. It is no Jaws, but it can be a thrilling 90 minutes that make you reconsider your next diving trip.
read less