Unnerving Sharks And Unexpected Confusion

**Warning: Spoilers, Sharks And Possible Swearing Ahead – Ye Be Warned**

47 Meters Down is a 2019 stand-alone horror sequel to the 2017 film, 47 Meters Down, about diabolical sharks. The film is directed by Johannes Roberts, an English Director, Producer and Writer.

The story follows Mia and Sasha, teenage stepsisters, as they and a couple of friends investigate their father/stepfathers newest discovery – a submerged Mayan City. After a member of the party knocks over an ancient stone/tower, an old Great White Shark emerges from the dark and goes in for the attack. The girls narrowly escape the completely blind creature but are now trapped as their exit route caves in. 

They now must escape the ancient Mayan City before this blind King of the Ocean catches them.

47 Meters Down Uncaged Info

I watched this on Netflix (UK) on Saturday 30th October 2021.

IMDB: 5/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 45%

**Last Warning – Possible Swearing and Spoilers Ahead**

Review Ramble

I knew from the start that this film was going to scare the shit out of me. Not because I had seen the original 47 Meters Down film, but because Sharks and Deep Water are terrifying and anyone who thinks otherwise is mental, in my opinion.

This film is one of those films that popped up on Netflix and part of my brain said, leave it alone and the other half said watch it! So, naturally, the gremlin side won. 

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly we got into the swing of things. There wasn’t a massive opening, nor was it drawn out. I’d say it was about ten to fifteen minutes before the main characters made their first stupid move in a long line of stupid moves. Which was refreshing. 

There was a little bit of backstory within those fifteen minutes. You quickly learn Mia is bullied, Sasha isn’t in with the popular crowd but popular enough that she isn’t messed with, and that neither of them is happy being remotely related to each other.

The story itself is alright. To be honest, I personally didn’t think there was much of a story except ‘get out’. In the beginning, we’ve got the whole blended family with two teenagers who hate that their family is blended. The girl who is close to her Dad but is bullied mixed with the beautiful popular girls who only wants to live her teenage dream of friends and parties.

The most interesting part of the story would have been the submerged Mayan City.

It would have been interesting to have developed that story a bit more but truthfully it became unimportant. There was no need for the cave system to be anything other than that, a cave system. The Mayan City part was unnecessary. It never enhanced the story because it was never used. They mention it, it looks cool when the girls first enter it and then the rest of the story is all about escaping certain death by Shark.

It would have served better used had they utilised the Mayan City better – like secret passageways, understanding the writing and stuff. If that had become a key to working out their escape then it would have made the use of a Mayan City not only relevant to the story but also make it a very interesting addition to the plot. However, they never utilised this at all. It seemed to be used as a captivating place setting with no other use.

The rest of the story was the usual Shark film with jumpscares. Panic, Panic, Panic, Calm, SHARK, panic, SHARK, panic, etc. I found this aspect of it enjoyable to an extent but that would be down to the fact that I enjoy the fear and adrenaline that watching horror films bring. And Sharks unnerve me. I know people say that they won’t hurt and don’t mean to hurt us, but unfortunately, they look scary to me.

The character was shallow, but for a standalone horror, I didn’t expect a whole lot from the characters. 

Nicole was a character I couldn’t stand, but she was designed that way. She was the one who pretty much instigated the entire events of the film. Nicole helped convince Sasha to leave her and Mia’s tourist boat trip to join her, she pressured the group into putting on the scuba gear and venturing into the submerged city, she didn’t listen to the others when told to leave the fish alone, she then knocked the stone over kicking up the dirt, and once they were finally safe with Mia’s Dad? She was the one to climb up on the rope with Alexa and destroyed the only way the group had out. Now, they were all stuck in the water with now two blind and hungry Sharks.

How two sharks wandered into the Mayan City and got trapped is beyond me! One getting in I can sort of understand, but two? It’s truly not a lot of space for two Great White Sharks. I am doubtful that there would be enough food or space for them.

Something that made it hard for me to watch was who had what knowledge. I don’t know if I would call this a continuity error or a story flaw. It was a confusion that was unexpected and unwanted. At the beginning of the film, Mia’s father shows the family s sharks tooth that he found in the City, eluding to the fact that a shark theoretically could fit in the City. Mia takes an interest and this is where she shows that she is rather knowledgable in this area – aquatic life and diving. It is also brought up how she was a natural in the water and that was like her home.

However, later on, when it comes time for the girls to suit up, Mia acts like she has no confidence in her skills.

Fair enough if it’s been a while and knowing how to do something yourself is vastly different to having to teach and be responsible for others. This is not the only thing that bothered me. There are several moments, I would like to say around 10 moments, where Alexa is the one giving out the advice on what to do, where to go, and how the underwater world works. But, Alexa gives off the feeling that she only knows her single experience of being taken into the City and that’s all.

So, how does she have all this knowledge and advice in comparison to the girl who is implied to live and breathe this world?

The CGI and cinematography were something I liked about the film, nothing about it broke my illusion of the film. I found it pleasant that the sharks were unnervingly realistic. Yes, blind and bleach of the blue-hued grey, but realistic. The sharks never once pulled me out of the film and other than their stupid eagerness to smash itself through a tiny opening to go after food. Although, I guess if you’ve been feeding off small fish for centuries and full-grown humans wander into your home you would go mental for some good grub!

There was a part of the film I absolutely loved, which was the scene where they were falling further down a dark trench (just after the father’s death) and the only light is coming from the diver alert thing. In some of the red flashes, lighting up what would otherwise be but a pitch-black abyss is the two sharks. Maybe a tail, one time a wide gaping douth searching for food. It was amazing.

Brilliant use of dark space and little light to create a terrifying atmosphere. Truly loved it!

Overall, the film was alright. Apart from that one scene with the red light and sharks, the film wasn’t something to rave about. I wouldn’t say I’d watch it again unless I was in the mood for a shark film then maybe. Its CGI is better than Jaws and Deep Blue Sea, but in general, it wasn’t anything to rave about.

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