Deep Blue Sea
D: Renny Harlin (1999); with Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J.Nearly every sea creature movie since Jaws (save, of course, the San Marcos-filmed Piranha) has been quite awful. With that in mind, Deep Blue Sea comes across as quite a surprise, with its great effects and balance of suspense, action, and horror. We meet a group of scientists working on a cure for Alzheimer’s, whose base is an oceanic research station. The guinea pigs? Three monstrous, great white sharks with vastly superior intelligence. Among the staff are a square-jawed diving stud (Jane), a sexy scientist (Burrows), a corporate observer (Jackson), and an affable cook (LL Cool J) with a pet parrot. Things go bad when a scientist’s arm is bitten off and his helicopter rescue ends in a crash that devastates the station. From here, our trapped heroes must make their way up ladders and through flooded corridors with the nasty man-eaters nipping at their heels. Bad acting is abundant, but this film clearly belongs to Harlin’s stern direction and harrowing sequences. There’s more at work here than just super sharks with computer-enhanced facial expressions. The claustrophobic feel of the station’s wrecked hull and rising water recall the tension of The Poseidon Adventure. Unlike that film, Deep Blue Sea has few memorable characters. Everyone’s just talking fish food waiting to be devoured and forgotten. Nonetheless, Harlin’s product succeeds as a superior yet undemanding monster movie replete with energetic pacing and unexpected thrills.
This article appears in February 4 • 2000.