Director Johannes Roberts
Genre Horror | Thriller
Cast Mandy Moore, Claire Holt, Matthew Modine, Yani Gellman
Rating PG-13
Release Date June 16th, 2017
“Two sisters, vacationing in Mexico, are trapped in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean, with less than an hour of oxygen left and great white sharks circling nearby.”
47 Meters Down is a shark attack thriller from director Johannes Roberts. Originally titled 47 Meters Down, the title was changed to In The Deep during spring 2016 and it was given a VOD/Blu-ray/DVD set for August. A week before the scheduled release a studio purchased the film, changed the name back, and prepared it for a wide theatrical release. The cast includes Mandy Moore, Claire Holt, Chris Johnson, and Yani Gellman.
47 Meters Down is a visceral shark attack thriller more than capable of seeking its teeth into an audience. Full disclosure, I had moderate expectations when I walked into the theater, especially considering the fact that this film wasn't even supposed to reach theaters originally. I fought the urge to compare 47 Meters Down to The Shallows, starring Blake Lively, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I was honestly impressed. 47 Meters Down is a back to basics shark attack thriller, pitting unsuspecting excitement seeking tourists up against some of the oceans most dangerous predators. The acting is very solid, and the scenario in which the characters find themselves in is relatively plausible (not that that matters all that much- it is a movie after all). The cinematography is spot on, the pacing is effective throughout, and the directing and score is top tier as well. I was honestly most impressed by the CGI, which I half expected to be average at best, but the sharks looked fantastic, and admittedly caused my heart to skip a beat or two. The characters were given enough of a backstory for viewers to invest in the preservation of their well-being, which I thought was important. By the final act, I was actually thinking beyond what was happening on–screen, and in some strange way thinking about how the events of the film will ultimately impact the lives of the two sisters. I was also impressed with the ending, which I found to be creative and thought provoking. A few things that I felt seemed out of place did take away from the level of intensity during some of the bigger scenes. For example, the oddly calm demeanor of the supporting cast felt out of place at times, specifically during radio contact with the bot while under water. However, that didn't take too much away from the overall impact of the film. Maybe they were trying to be realistic in the sense of how someone would act if they were trying to make sure the victim kept calm, but to me it just didn’t sit right. I did notice a couple other inconsistencies, but honestly I don’t feel it’s worth picking these things apart. 47 Meters Down is a very entertaining movie and that’s what matters.
47 Meters Down has a small yet very talented cast at its disposal. Leads Mandy Moore and Claire Holt anchor the cast and deliver great performances. Mandy Moore has been relatively quiet as far as movies go as of late, although she has been making waves with the hit series This Is Us. According to Moore's IMDb filmography, she has a few upcoming films on the horizon. A talented actress who seems to have grown over the years, Moore has fantastic chemistry with Holt and the two are a big reason why the film works. 47 Meters Down is the first lead role for Claire Holt, who also has a few films coming out soon. While she may be considered a B-rated film actress up to this point in her career, I think she proved that she has the ability to play a lead role with great results. I feel like a certain level of difficulty does exist when playing a role like this, compared to let's say a traditional horror film or slasher, with such a huge emphasis on believability as far as a life or death situation, and these two deliver the goods. The supporting cast is fine overall, not really providing or taking away too much from the film. The biggest name on the cast has one of the smallest roles, and that is fan favorite and veteran actor Matthew Modine, best known for his role as Pvt. J.T. "Joker" Davis in Full Metal Jacket (1987). As usual, Modine is a gem in front of the camera.
Summarizing how I feel about 47 Meters Down is surprisingly difficult, mainly because I thoroughly enjoyed it, yet I wouldn't consider it to be a really good movie necessarily. I'm honestly not quite sure how to explain that riddle of an explanation, but this is an example of safe filmmaking that in the end, simply works. The audience stays on the edge of their seat, the acting never feels corny or exaggerated, and the filming location is absolutely beautiful. Director Johannes Roberts is far from a household name, but he has caught my eye a few times now, first with the underappreciated horror film, The Other Side of the Door and now this. All in all, 47 Meters Down isn't quite a must-see in the theaters type of movie, but whether you see it at home or on the big screen, it will be an hour and a half well spent- that I can assure you.
