When a small research team travels below the surface to find out what secret the world’s deepest borehole is hiding, what they find turns out to be the greatest threat in history. And the future of humanity is in their hands.
There’s plenty of great versions of this story already told: rescue team enters Antarctic research station and horrifying alien hunts and kills almost everyone. “The Thing” maximized the story’s potential with some notable entries like “Alien vs. Predator.” What makes “The Superdeep” any significant contributor feels extremely muted by the muddied storytelling and lack of confidence in practical effects. It sneaks in plenty of grisly moments with great sets and impressive practical effects but fails to deliver much narrative making it more of a shiny object and less of an engaging story.
Arseny Syuhin’s first time out as the big director/writer and it shows. Originally in Russian and translated to English, the clunky voiceover butchers many of the important dialogue leaving us with an impression of conflict than a strong story. The protagonist has no real backstory and simply exists in this story as a narrative driver. Her scientific background feels like the only characterization offered and she’s the least flat figure in this flick.
Ultimately, I wanted to root for this movie because its set design and practical effects really sold it. I found myself extremely confused by the dub and uncertain if I misheard lines or missed something. The grisly murders could’ve been more impactful had they not been shot so quickly and rapidly I missed all the action. Syuhin commits a cardinal sin by failing to show the monster in its entirety, leaving it up to quick cuts and shadowy silhouettes. This is a real shame because the few shots we get of this creature feel utterly terrifying.
There’s some impressive Lovecraftian horror at the center of this film, but existential terror alone is not enough. While the story delivered plenty of visuals, it could’ve easily blown us all away with much more, and it looked like it had more to offer. Perhaps with a second go-round at the dubbing, it would become more cohesive and feel less trite. I might finally understand where everything is, why everything happened, and what it all means to our protagonist (who is as much a cipher as everyone else.) I want to root for “The Superdeep,” I really do, but it feels extremely difficult to do with so little offered to entice us.
Now available to stream on Shudder
