Ataraxia
I know Atanaria has already shared her top 5 shark movies, and honestly, it’s not the same as mine, so now it’s my turn to give you my 5 favorite shark films. Although I do agree with Atanaria on one film, The Shallows, starring Blake Lively. Here are the 5 films I never get tired of.
- The Meg
Yes, I know… it’s not very original, but I never get tired of this film, both the first and the second. As with every movie he’s in, I think Jason Statham plays his role to perfection. He embodies Jonas and hunts the megalodon with astonishing ease. Anyway, the actor has nothing left to prove in international cinema. And for the few who don’t know about this film, what’s it about? Well, sharks. Very, very, very big sharks.
More seriously, a deep-sea research team discovers a false bottom in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. A technical problem traps a team of researchers in this trench. While on a rescue mission to pull them out, Jason quickly realizes that they’re not the only ones who have surfaced, and that a megalodon, a species of shark thought to be long extinct, has taken the opportunity to escape from the depths.
- 47 Meters Down: Uncaged
Available on Prime Video, this captivating film takes us deep into a submerged Mayan city. While four teenagers explore the city, their dream soon turns into a nightmare when they realize they aren’t alone and that to survive, they’ll have to manage more than just their oxygen levels. They quickly become prey for great white sharks, and what started as a holiday turns into a real tragedy.
47 Meters Down: Uncaged is a suspense-filled film that will win over all shark movie fans. Teamwork becomes a vital resource, and the dwindling air supply will soon spell doom for the four friends. After watching this film, believe me, you’ll think twice about venturing underwater without a backup plan.
- Under Paris
One of Netflix’s latest shark films is Under the Seine. And watch out, this French film is going to blow your mind. It opens with an incredible scene of Berenice Bejo, who plays Sophia, emerging from the water, covered in blood. We follow Sophia as she discovers that the shark she was tracking years ago, the one that killed her entire team, has survived and, worse, has made its home in the Seine.
There’s a little problem, though—the Paris triathlon is about to start. Despite the Paris river police tracking Lilith, the mako shark, with Sophia’s help, the mayor of Paris doesn’t take the situation seriously and decides to proceed with the event in the Seine. Things get even more complicated when they discover that Lilith isn’t alone and that her species has mutated and can now reproduce on its own. It becomes difficult for the river police to clean up the Seine before the triathlon begins. Worse still, a shark could displace the unexploded World War II bombs still lying in the river, and too much movement could trigger an explosion.
Under the Seine keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The actors deliver an incredible performance, and better yet, part of the story is based on true events. In 2022, about 154 bombs from World War II were actually found in the Seine.
- 47 Meters Down
Yes, the title closely resembles our number two, but no, these are not the same films. 47 Meters Down follows Lisa and Kate. While on vacation, they decide to dive with sharks in the ocean, confined in a cage. Little do they know that their cage will detach from the boat, sending them plummeting to the ocean floor. Though equipped with tanks and diving gear, their oxygen is running out, and the boat that brought them there isn’t receiving their distress call. When one sister decides to swim up to try to call for help, the sharks around her are all too happy to remind her she’s not alone in the water and that if she’s not careful, she’ll be devoured. Her sister, who stays near the cage, is also in danger, and returning to the surface may be more challenging than the two young women anticipated.
- No Way Up
Finally, like Under the Seine, this Netflix film is one of the latest buzzworthy shark movies. No Way Up takes us on vacation with Ava, her bodyguard, her boyfriend, and a friend. But when their plane crashes in the middle of the ocean, getting back to the surface isn’t going to be easy. Especially since the survivors don’t have diving equipment, and escaping the shark-infested wreckage won’t be a walk in the park. To survive, they’ll have to be resourceful, work together, and, most importantly, distract the sharks to avoid being eaten.
Like all these films, No Way Up is a suspenseful, gripping movie that will keep you glued to the screen.
So good luck watching these films, and especially, try not to become thalassophobic after that!
