2026, Jeff Wadlow (Fantasy Island) -- download/Amazon
We watch enough to create a 'shark movies' Tag. Again, we as in Marmy and I; not sure of Kent's interest in movies with gnashy teeth sea creatures. I think his only entry in this Tag is a James Bond flick.
Anywayz, not going to debate the 'are shark movies horror movies?' as they are: a) survival, a common enough horror movie theme, and b) monsters, as sharks in movies are most def monsters. No debate -- Yes, they are horror movies. That is, unless the tone is Adventure Survival. Also, shark movies tend to also follow the same trope stream as a slasher movie, except the shark doesn't wear a mask. Now, wouldn't that be a movie!
I think you debated it, dude.
Anywayz, the pretty college girls and boys are on vacation in Thailand. We have Sara (Kathryn Newton, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come) and Max (Lana Condor, X-Men: Apocalypse), long time friends, planning to move to NYC together after college. Except Max is all about maximizing potential, so she's set up her own gig as an influencer in LA. Sara is not pleased. We have James (Nico Hiraga, Booksmart), who is their longtime friend, but also Max's BF. We have their third wheel Adrienne (Tommi Rose, Sweet Magnolias) and her pretty new boy toy Greg (wait, Greg + Adrienne?? blink blink; Gavin Casalegno, The Summer I Turned Pretty). We immediately peg Adrienne as the first to be eaten, by a shark.
So, Thailand vacation. Max is maximizing -- when their boat reservation falls through, she sweet talks the owner into bigger, better boat, and they spend the day drinking, dancing, snacking. As the day wanes, a somewhat subdued Sara goes snorkeling, and in a bit of a drunken not-paying-attention, Sara gives the OK for the boat to head back --- without Sara. Oops. Suddenly Sara is surrounded by stinging jelly fish, and ouch! They do finally notice, come back for her, but she is hurt physically and emotionally, and pissed at Max. We learn that Max never accepts accountability for her actions, no matter who they hurt.
Next day, caves! Swimming your way through spooky caves! There was a recent uncharacteristic storm that flooded the caves, so the guide suggests the Easy Swim, but Max wants a max experience, so she convinces him to take the on the Tough Swim! Danger! Excitement! Off they go. Sara is still stinging (pun intended) by yesterday's experience, a bit nervous, but Max doesn't care.
Suffice to say, they made the wrong choice. How exactly did a ocean dwelling gnashy teethed killing machine get into these fresh water caves? The aforementioned storm surge, of course! Big waves, higher than usual tides and enough diluted fresh water so this shark can survive, and we know from some videos from Florida, that its possible.
The first to go is the "don't go into the basement!" character, the lone (but cute!!!) scuba diver who flirts with Sara, but is... all by himself ! Later on, in a rather deep section of the caves, she sees him down below and waves. Not long after, CHOMP. And not long after that, they discover his mask with a tooth lodged in it. Ruh roh. Their guide Wat (Tayme Thapthimthong, John Rambo) needs to get them out of there NOW, but, Stupid Kids. While they are all panicking and arguing and yammering on, they don't see he has already departed. Good thing they didn't take his path because CHOMP.
They begin the slod plodding swim back, but Adrienne cuts her leg open on some sharp rocks under the water and ... sniff sniff, "is that bloooood?" Not So Bright and "I should've called my mother this morning" Greg is the first to go, and that just amps the panic and arguing by ten fold. We were wrong; Adrienne has to wait until second place. That leaves Sara, Max and James clinging to a rock arguing what to do next. Max, of course, needs to take control but Sara is adamant the swim back is too long, and the only safe way out is the climb to the ocean entrance. Max fears there will just be more sharks, cuz... ocean!
They end up taking a long meandering alternate route to the caves entrance, one that involves lots of long under water swims, coming up for air in pockets, while the shark stalks them on the other side of a line of stalactite and stalagmites, a literal wall between them and the gnashy teeth. BUT one errant swim and James gets trapped, only to drown. Its now only the oldest, dearest friends Sara and Max, whose oldest & dearest is severely fraying at the seams. Not long after losing James, they find themselves back where they started... the meandering underwater swims just brought them full circle.
So, take the blue tunnel, or climb up to the ocean entrance? Of course, Max has to be in control, despite her errors in judgement leading to the deaths of all their friends. You can see the resentment twisting in Sara's face, but .... she is showing a strength she never has before. But as they try to make their way to the blue tunnel, sharky shark begins slamming his nose into cave walls, bringing the roof down. Sara does drive him off with a flare, but now Max has a broken hand and difficulty climbing up to the ocean entrance.
Final scenes. Final .... girls? Sara is the Nice Girl, Max is a bitch. But despite the difficulties, Sara is staying loyal, "friends until the stars burn out...." I guess they see their friendship as immortal? Wadlow actually succeeds in having us root for the two getting out, despite Max's general unlikeability, primarily because we don't want that all hanging on Sara. It's a good fake-out, cuz just as Max is getting sufficiently out of the water, climbing up the cave wall, sharky shark leaps up, pulling her, and Sara tethered together by a climbing rope, back into the water. CHOMP. Sara's final good-bye is cutting the line between the girls.
But that's not the end. Sara has to deal with sharky shark, and does so by coaxing him to attack her while she hangs from some fragile overhanging rocks. A few heavy nose slams and sharky shark is caught under the falling ceiling, and Sara is able to climb her way out to the ocean entrance, which is... way the fuck above the beach, like waaaaaay up high. She has freedom but... how is she going to get down? I have a feeling the cry of success she lets out, was meant originally to be one of frustration, as she is kind of trapped up there, but that is not how the final scenes play out.
A cookie cutter shark movie, unfortunately with no unique or interesting hallmarks. I honestly thought both girls would get out, but it needs to cling so closely to tropes, that Sara the Nice Blonde Girl has to the Final Girl.
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