The camera slowly pans across a picturesque beach, gentle waves lapping against the shore. A lone swimmer ventures into the water. The music starts building up, a menacing shadow moving swiftly in the deep ends, the camera now tracking the swimmer's every move from under the surface. A splash. A scream. A pool of blood. And then silence.
Shark films have seen a roaring success for the past five decades - a trend that rose to the surface of popular culture in the mid-70s, following the release of Stephen Spielberg's summer blockbuster (the first of its kind) Jaws. The suspenseful thriller broke box office records and became a cultural phenomenon, sparking both fear and fascination towards the apex predator in audiences around the globe. Even more, Jaws sank its teeth deep into the viewer's psyche, tapping into a primeval fear of the unknown - what's lurking in the dark. 27-year-old Spielberg started a cinematic movement, which turned the shark into a ruthless predator and therefore an attractive spectacle for thrill-seeking audiences. Many were inspired by the success of Jaws and felt compelled to give it their own spin, and so the shark film emerged.
*Watch Sharkploitation (2023), the shark craze documentary, now streaming on Shudder.
It's shark week - what started as an annual television programming block dedicated to shark specials and documentaries, now spilling into social media and big-screen releases (The Meg 2). To honour the occasion, we've put together a list of movie recommendations that are guaranteed to keep you on your toes on your next summer vacation. Strap up and let's dive straight in.
1. Open Water (2003)
Based on true events, Open Water presents a chilling take on the terrifying reality of being stranded in the vastness of the open ocean. The movie follows a couple, Susan and Daniel (portrayed by Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis), who find themselves accidentally left behind by their scuba diving tour boat in the middle of the ocean.
The film's strength lies in its ability to create an overwhelming sense of isolation and vulnerability through the remarkably authentic and raw performances, as well as through director Chris Kentis's organic approach to storytelling.
Moving away from traditional tention-building techniques like jumpscares, Kentis uses documentary-style low-budget filmmaking to really immerse the viewer in the harrowing story at hand.
Open Water serves as a chilling reminder of the unforgiving nature of the open ocean, shining a light on the emotional toll the dire circumstances take on the couple's relationship and ultimately adding a human element to a horrifying shark tale.
Watch the Open Water trailer here.
2. 47 Meters Down (2017)
Directed by Johannes Roberts (The Strangers: Prey at Night 2018, V/H/S/99 2022), 47 Meters Down plunges the viewer into the depths of fear and desperation. Trapped in a sunken shark cage in the Gulf of Mexico, Lisa and Kate (portrayed by Mandy Moore and Claire Holt), must fight for their survival in a race against time (due to their limited oxygen supply) and, of course, sharks.
The film's premise for an intense and claustrophobic journey is taken to another level through the stunning cinematography - the vastness of the ocean, the fading lights of the cage and looming great whites heighten the feeling of helplessness, central to the plot.
That being said, there are quite a few instances where certain plot elements may stretch the boundaries of realism - like the characters being able to converse clearly without the help of any equipment while stuck at the bottom of the ocean. Still, 47 Meters Down does a good job of keeping the audience invested in the developing story, outweighing any technical shortcomings or movie sins.
What seems like a bonding experience shared between two sisters, quickly takes a dark turn, shifting into a breathtaking showcase for the horrors of the deep ocean.
Watch the 47 Meters Down trailer here.
3. The Shallows (2016)
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax 2005, Orphan 2009), The Shallows skillfully builds tension and suspense from the very beginning, submerging the viewer into a heart-pounding ride.
Blake Lively portrays Nancy Adams, a determined surfer who finds herself stranded on a secluded rock after a shark attack.
Aside from Lively's incredible performance, the film's cinematography deserves special mention - the breathtaking aerial shots of the open ocean, contrasted with the lurking danger beneath the surface, add a sense of beauty and terror to the story.
The vastness of the ocean serves as a constant reminder of Nancy's isolation and vulnerability, intensifying the claustrophobic nature of her predicament.
Beyond being a mere survival story, The Shallows also delves into themes of resilience, determination, and the human spirit's will to survive against all odds. It presents Nancy's character as more than just a victim; she becomes a symbol of courage and inner strength, making her journey all the more inspiring.
Watch the The Shallows trailer here.
4. Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Directed by Renny Harlin (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master 1988, Die Hard 2 1990), Deep Blue Sea follows a team of scientists working on a remote underwater research facility. Seeking to cure Alzheimer's disease, they genetically engineer highly intelligent and aggressive sharks. However, when the sharks' intelligence outstrips their expectations, chaos ensues as the team must fight for their lives against these formidable predators.
The ensemble cast, led by Thomas Jane (The Mist 2007), Saffron Burrows (You 2019-2021), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction 1994, The Hateful Eight 2015), Stellan Skarsgård (Good Will Hunting 1997), and LL Cool J (Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later 1998), delivers solid performances, capturing the urgency and fear of their characters as they try to outwit the deadly sharks.
The pacing of Deep Blue Sea is relentless, with adrenaline-inducing shark attacks and suspenseful chases, amplified by jaw-dropping surprises, keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat.
Beyond the thrills, Deep Blue Sea also explores themes of scientific ethics and the consequences of tampering with nature.
As the scientists grapple with the unintended consequences of their experiments, the movie delves into the moral implications of their actions, adding depth to what could have been a straightforward creature feature.
Watch the Deep Blue Sea trailer here.
5. Shark Night 3D (2011)
We looked at the classics, the 90s and early 2000s wave of success and now it's time to address the megalodon in the room - the camp of shark films. After Jaws, there were a lot of filmmakers who wanted to make realistic shark films, telling survival stories or educating the public on shark behaviour and biology. But arguably twice as many were interested in the opposite - they wanted to push the limit of their imagination and take audiences beyond. The world was all of a sudden hit by a tidal wave of bad shark films.
Shark Night 3D is one of those films. Directed by David R. Ellis (also known for the Final Destination films), it offers a thrilling and entertaining ride for fans of creature feature films with a campy and over-the-top tone throughout.
As far as bad shark film plots go, a group of college kids (Aquamarine's Sara Paxton, Schitt's Creek's Dustin Milligan, and The O.C.'s Chris Carmack to name a few) get together for a weekend getaway to a remote lake house (see the twist there), only to be picked off one by one by the viscous sharks living in the lake. But how did those bloody sharks end up in the lake? See that's where the fun starts.
Shark Night 3D pulls together elements from the classic monster horror film and fleshes them out with a slasher undertone, adding up to a blood-soaked viewing experience and a true example of exploitation of genre trends of the era.
The film knows exactly what it wants to be – a fun popcorn flick with thrilling shark encounters – but there's still a sense of something strange lurking in the shadows.
Watch the Shark Night 3D trailer here.
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