A group of international passengers en route from Los Angeles to Shanghai is forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters. Now they must work together in hopes of overcoming the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.
Renny Harlin is a director whose work I once held in high regard. His early film “Prison,” a modestly budgeted horror picture featuring a young Viggo Mortensen, was a striking and moody achievement that lingered with me for years. Harlin would move on to helm notable titles such as “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master,” “Die Hard 2,” “Cliffhanger,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” and “Deep Blue Sea.” Unfortunately, his subsequent career shifted toward smaller, direct-to-video productions that largely went unnoticed.
In 2024, there seemed to be a glimmer of revival when Harlin was linked to a remake of “The Strangers,” followed by sequels set for release in 2025 and 2026. That promise quickly faded as the films failed to find an audience. Now we have “Deep Water.” The trailer, while not especially stirring, suggested at least a competent thriller, bolstered by a strong cast including Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley. With Harlin once again tackling sharks, I hoped he might recapture some of his earlier flair. Regrettably, that hope was misplaced. What we are given instead is a formulaic disaster film that might have fit comfortably alongside “The Poseidon Adventure” or “The Towering Inferno” in the 1970s, but feels out of place in 2026.
The narrative centers on Ben (Aaron Eckhart), the First Officer under Captain Richard (Ben Kingsley), as they prepare for a transpacific flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai. Disaster strikes mid-flight: a short circuit sends the plane crashing into the Pacific. The aircraft splits into three sections upon impact, and the survivors must devise a way to endure, all while a school of voracious mako sharks circles menacingly.
I genuinely wanted “Deep Water” to herald a return to form for Harlin, but it proves to be yet another predictable thriller, offering little that is fresh or inventive. The film dutifully ticks off genre conventions, and while the plane crash sequence provides a jolt of excitement, it stands as the sole memorable set piece.
What follows is the familiar drama of survivors turning on one another, each eager to assign blame for their predicament. Ben, as the First Officer, becomes the primary target of their anger. The questions he faces—how could he let the crash happen, why didn’t he prevent it—are both unfair and unhelpful.
The situation worsens as the survivors realize they are surrounded by aggressive mako sharks, reminiscent of those in Harlin’s 1999 film “Deep Blue Sea.” That earlier film, for all its camp, was undeniably entertaining, supported by a colorful ensemble cast. In “Deep Water,” the actors deliver respectable performances, but the characters themselves are so steeped in cliché that they seem borrowed from Irwin Allen’s classic disaster films. There is the frightened child separated from his family, the remorseful older sister, the elderly woman resigned to her fate—the archetypes are all too familiar.
After viewing “Deep Water,” I found myself revisiting “The Poseidon Adventure.” Despite its dated effects, its storytelling and character work remain leagues ahead. Aaron Eckhart, now appearing in lower-profile projects, is an actor capable of much more when paired with the right material. Ben Kingsley, meanwhile, appears briefly in what amounts to a cameo before his character is dispatched.
While “Deep Water” boasts a handful of tense moments—most notably the initial crash—the remainder is mired in well-worn, uninspired scenarios that have been executed with greater skill elsewhere. Scenes of survivors scrambling for safety while sharks circle below, or the presence of an insufferable cynic among the group, offer little that feels new or noteworthy.
If you are an aficionado of disaster films and are untroubled by repetition, “Deep Water” may offer some fleeting diversion. Still, I would strongly recommend seeking out the original “The Poseidon Adventure” or “The Towering Inferno” for a more rewarding experience.
In Theaters Friday, May 1st
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