Some entertaining practical effects and homages make this low-budget B-horror film worth a watch if you're a fan of these types of films.
Married couple Alex (Gina La Piana) and Petri (Johann Urb) decide to rent an Airbnb on a lovely beachside property in a small community. Property owners Russel (Robert Miano) and Ingrid (Silvia Spross) are happy to oblige their every need, inviting them on to their extravagant boat outings and community get-togethers. Things aren’t what they appear to be, and when Alex notices her husband’s attitude abruptly change from introverted to honorary member of the community, she discovers a deeper mystery involving the strange activities of the neighbors.
H.P. Lovecraft’s life and career are fascinating, mainly due to the fact that he didn’t see any critical success or recognition until decades after his death in 1937. Since then, many of his short stories and ideas have been used as the basis of some great horror and sci-fi films and stories. Cthulhu, a creation of his, is well known in popular culture in a variety of ways, and the race, The Deep Ones, being the inspiration for this film.
While The Deep Ones does make reference to the mythical sea creatures and has its fair share of tentacles, if you’re looking for the eccentric and over-the-top sequences you may see in one of Stuart Gordon’s Lovecraft-based films, you really won’t find it here. The film revolves around the mysterious actions of a beachside community, that indoctrinates members by some kind of mind-control or change by sticking a tentacle down your throat. There are eccentricities in the film, don’t get me wrong, but not the kind that really propels the story forward in any unique way.
The story, sadly to say, doesn’t really contain enough of these propelling changes to make it interesting. We are subjected to strange goings-on, weird characters making house-calls, and sensual fire-dances, but really, nothing happens. We get a brief introduction to a possible deeper story with a letter found by Alex and her friend that points to Ingrid being held against her will, but almost as soon as it’s introduced the film is over. This so-called mystery just can’t be all the film has to offer. There is no B-story, not much in the way of horror, and the only real shock doesn’t have anything to do with the Deep Ones, it’s when a pregnant woman is kicked in the stomach. Needless to say, there is just something missing from this film to keep the viewer engaged in its already short running time of 83 minutes, which seems so much longer. If you are a fan of B-horror and know what to expect, this may be right up your alley, however.
This is a low-budget film, so while you can’t expect the type of production value you may see in billion-dollar companies, there are a few things to like about the film. One being the practical effects. These may not be game-changing in any way, but the practical effects definitely make homage to a lot of those older Lovecraft-based films, and you can see the dedication to the craft. Granted, these are just flailing tentacles and some glowing eyes, but practical effects will always take precedence to me in horror films. Fans of these types of films may also recognize Kelli Maroney from a slew of 80’s horror, and it was great seeing her in a horror film again!
Video
The Deep Ones has been released on DVD only, with a Standard Definition 1.85:1 transfer. With any SD transfer compared to Blu-ray, you won’t be getting the clearest picture possible, and this is much more evident in some of the darker sequences, which there are a lot of. If you’re a fan of low-budget horror and Lovecraft, get this on streaming for the HD.
Audio
The audio is presented in English 5.1 Surround. This track sounds good for what it is. Not a lot of action, just some dialogue and score, but nice snippets of atmospheric effects that keep you immersed in what is happening on-screen.
Special Features
The added benefit of physical media, extras you won’t see any other way. These do provide some insights into the production and give you a better understanding and appreciation on the direction of the story.
These include:
- Deleted Scenes
- Grimmfest Featurette
- Behind the Scenes
If you’re looking to expand your viewing of H.P. Lovecraft stories, there are certainly more unique and strange options out there. But, if you’re a fan of low-budget B-movie horror, The Deep Ones may give you a few laughs and scares along the way.
