Following 2017’s 47 Meters Down, Johannes Roberts’ sequel puts a new spin on a classic horror villain.
Mia (Sophie Nélisse) and her stepsister Sasha (Corinne Foxx) have recently moved to a new school with their parents Grant (John Corbett) and Jennifer (Nia Long). When Mia is bullied at school, Sasha does nothing to help. Grant, in an attempt to bring the two together, plans a glass-bottom boat tour to see great white sharks. While waiting in line for the boat tour, Sasha’s friends Alexa (Brianne Tju) and Nicole (Sistine Stallone) arrive and encourage the two to come with them to a secret lagoon. Hesitant, Mia decides to join them after seeing her bully in line for the boat tour. After driving and hiking to the lagoon, the four swim and bond. Alexa, who dates one of Grant’s assistants, informs the others that the lagoon has an entrance to a submerged Mayan city where Grant and his team are working. The four use the nearby scuba equipment to dive and see the Mayan city. After a series of tunnels, the girls reach a sacrificial chamber. While exploring, Nicole becomes startled by a fish and knocks over a column. This creates a minor cave in blocking the exit. In an attempt to get out of the underwater city, the girls are forced to swim deeper into the maze of tunnels where a sinister creature awaits.
My relationship with shark films is…complicated. As a self-proclaimed “shark lover”, I often find myself being overly, and at times unfairly, critical. Even the shark horror films I rate poorly I find myself rewatching. In the case of 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, the film has taken a Hollywood favorite narrative and injected evolution to create a new unique genre of shark horror. Having lived in the underwater Mayan city with no vision, the finned antagonist’s other senses has enhanced. If there is one thing to know about sharks, it’s that they are excellent hunters due to incredible senses. The idea that this blind shark living in an underwater city has amplified senses is a horror in itself for potential prey. I found this to be a very fun and interesting concept. With that said, let’s get down to the film itself.
For a lot of cinephiles, the setting of films have a great impact on the viewers enjoyment. Myself, I really enjoy underwater settings. There’s something about the mysteries of the ocean that creates an exciting, and at times scary, setting for a lot of films. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged‘s predecessor explored deep open ocean with circling predators. I found the first film to be enjoyable, but not entirely unique. However, Uncaged has created a new underwater world that intensifies not only the mystery, but the visual appeal as well.
I was impressed with the performances by the young and somewhat inexperienced cast. Sophie Nélisse, Corinne Foxx, Brianne Tju and Sistine Stallone really brought their characters to life. Some I found myself actively rooting for, while others created disdain. Regardless, each character felt important to the storyline.
Movie fans often debate about what is better, the first film or its sequels. I believe that 47 Meters Down: Uncaged has taken top prize from its 2017 predecessor. If you enjoy shark films or love a good underwater setting, you’ll enjoy 47 Meters Down: Uncaged. If nothing else, this is a fun film with a unique spin on a deep-rooted human fear.