UNDERWATER. A Decent Science Fiction Horror

These are sad times, when the combination of horror and science fiction haunts cinemas so rarely that one gets excited even by potential mediocrities. That was the case for me with Underwater, the reception of which across the ocean didn’t promise anything extraordinary, yet I went to the screening with cautious hope. That hope was put to the test in the very first minutes of the film. The creators literally throw exposition at the viewer, made up of newspaper headlines (though it’s better and more ominous than TV news clips), followed by the introduction of the main character and voice-over narration. That damn, cursed voice-over narration. This may be the most irritating plague of contemporary cinema, but fortunately, Kristen Stewart’s internal monologue only outlines the protagonist’s state of mind, serves a few banalities to the viewer, and then disappears. Only then does the film really begin.

The presentation of the main character in the bathroom, away from any living soul, skillfully sketches her character and brings us closer to her, especially since it’s the unsettling silence before the storm and the frantic chaos that breaks out shortly after. Watching the elements toss the woman around (and the camera, which seems excessively shaky in post-production) in all directions, we understand her desperation and root for her. It’s a pity that we aren’t given more time with the protagonist herself, especially since Kristen Stewart clearly puts a lot of heart into this role and could easily carry a large part of the film on her own. However, she quickly encounters other survivors, forming a small group that faces imminent death. The drilling station where the characters are located lies at the bottom of the ocean, over 10,000 meters below sea level. The lucky ones spared by the implosion and destruction of most of the station are surrounded by dark ocean depths, lethal pressure, and a mysterious threat.

A threat that may be responsible for the entire catastrophe and one that is hardly shrouded in mystery, as neither the initial exposition, nor the trailers, nor even one of the posters leave much doubt. A bit more mystery wouldn’t have hurt in building tension – it suffers from the excess of knowledge about the backdrop of the on-screen events, but still manages to effectively scare. The moments of exploring the ocean’s darkness and the station’s ruins wonderfully build a sense of claustrophobia, and the inventive use of lighting adds to the overall appeal. What fares much worse is the issue of scaring, which unfortunately relies on very predictable jump scares and chaotic scuffling. Some scenes gain from the nervously shaky camera work and blurred image (after all, we are at the sandy ocean floor, and all sorts of muck is floating around), but there are also times when the illegibility of the action seriously frustrates. Sometimes, it feels like certain choices had more to do with budgetary issues than artistic vision.

Despite these problems, both the horror and action can engage, especially in the very well-started, but unfortunately too short, finale. A finale in which, on one hand, we root for the characters, but on the other, we know full well how it will all end, which weakens the tension and the fear for the protagonist’s success. The characters are sufficiently developed to evoke sympathy, but not enough to make us watch the climax of the film on the edge of our seat. When the end credits roll on the screen, it’s hard not to shake your head with the feeling that this could have been much better.

Underwater offers some well-shot and properly soundtracked entertainment and good performances by actors who skillfully sell the hopelessness of their characters’ situations, but the film lacks an edge. It would have benefited from an expansion and rewriting of the script (perhaps some intrigue or a conflict involving one of the characters?), or at least a more creative director. In the meantime, we got a decently made underwater horror that won’t guarantee an unforgettable screening but will be a very pleasant way to spend an hour and a half.