Loosely based on Steve Alten’s 1997 novel Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror, The Meg is a fun and exciting ride as a group of scientists encounter a 70-foot-long megalodon shark.
Roughly 200 miles off the coast of China, oceanographers are conducting research in the Mana One underwater research facility. Billionaire Jack Morris (Rainn Wilson), who has financed the facility, arrives as a group of scientists are preparing to explore a potentially deeper section of the Marianas Trench. After passing through a thermocline cloud of hydrogen sulfide, the expedition crew enter a new underwater world of undiscovered species including a 70-foot-long megalodon shark. After the crew’s submersible is attacked by the Meg, rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) is called upon to rescue the crew consisting of Jonas’ ex-wife. After arriving back at Mana One, the oceanographers discover the Meg has made it through the thermocline and is on the loose in the Pacific Ocean.
I loved this film. I have always enjoyed shark films, such as the Jaws film series and Deep Blue Sea, but i found the idea of a megalodon shark film quite intriguing. What would happen if a megalodon existed in today’s world? I think The Meg does an excellent job of of providing a hypothetical answer. Also, rather than creating a plot where the megalodon appears out of nowhere and starts wreaking havoc, the film creates a believable story of untouched, underwater region conquered by the megalodon. These factors make for an entertaining story line that will have viewers on the edge of their seat.
Visually, this is a beautiful film. Everything, from the underwater sequences to the Mana One research facility, is easy on the eyes while providing a crystal clear image of underwater sea life. The visual effects used for the Meg itself were also spectacular. It was important that the actions and movements of the Meg were accurate and realistic, both of which the film accomplished.
The film also features an excellent cast lineup led by Jason Statham (Crank, The Mechanic). Anytime Rainn Wilson (TV’s The Office, The Rocker) is involved laughs are guaranteed, but I really like the addition Ruby Rose (xXx: Return of Xander Cage, John Wick: Chapter 2) and Page Kennedy (TV’s Blue Mountain State, Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood). Rose injects some edge as the confident and snarky scientist Jaxx Herd while Kennedy provides additional laughs as DJ, a remote pilot. I thoroughly enjoyed Li Bingbing as shark expert Suyin Zhang, as well as the brilliant performance by Sophia Cai as Suyin’s daughter, Meiying.
I am a shark nerd. I watch Shark Week every year, study and read about sharks when I can, and am a huge supporter of shark conservation. There are many misconceptions surrounding sharks, mainly that they are mindless killing machines, which has contributed to the extreme number of sharks killed by humans each year. Various research shows that roughly 5-10 people are killed annually by sharks while humans kill almost 100 million sharks each year! That’s around 11,000 each hour! Hollywood is partly to blame for provoking fear of sharks leading to further deaths. However, The Meg does an excellent job of not demonizing sharks, except for the massive megalodon. In fact, the film goes above and beyond by highlighting how disgusting and disgraceful shark finning is. Because of this, The Meg gets a metaphorical star from me.
Is The Meg going to win awards? No. But this is an extremely fun and enjoyable film with stunning video quality. Any fan of shark films will find themselves loving The Meg.
