By Elliot Lines September 8, 2024
Ever since 'Jaws', the shark-horror sub genre has been a favourite of many, with he appearance of the deadly fish always able to get butts on seats. Just this year we've had the release of 'Under Paris' and 'No Way Up', which fall into the shark-horror category. 'Something in the Water' provides a bit of realism, but the shark is just an added horror to that of being stuck in the vast ocean where no-one will find you.
Synopsis
Reunited for a destination wedding, five girlfriends decide to rent a boat to spend the day along the coast. However, when they get stranded in open water, they find themselves in a fight for their lives against circling sharks and Mother Nature.
Review
'Something in the Water' begins by introducing us to Meg (Hiftu Quasem) and Kayla (Natalie Mitson), a couple who are subject to a homophobic attack, which ultimately ends their relationship. When re-uniting for a friends wedding their relationship is very much at the forefront of peoples mind. The film uses their relationship to its advantage, putting them in situations, creating emotion and tension in moments where it may not be there otherwise.
Getting stranded at sea could be one of the most horrifying event for anyone to fathom. 'Something in the Water' portrays this horror, with there being plenty of hopeless bobbing around, praying for someone to cross their paths. The shark element feels like an additional extra, with the fin occasionally making an appearance above the surface of the water, only to not be seen or a splatter of blood to rise to the surface. It's not until the big finale that we capture a glimpse of the shark itself, and the not so impressive CGI may be why we'd not seen it sooner.
The characters involved appear to be their own worst enemy, with constant bickering, while they're sitting ducks for one of the worlds most feared predators. It creates a dynamic between the characters that makes a few unlikeable and is only a recipe for disaster, oh and of course you've got the non-swimmer revelation for one character...there's only one fate coming her way.
Playing it safe for a shark-horror, with more competent iterations out there. However, 'Something in the Water' manages to convey another horror at play here perfectly, being stranded at sea.
Star Rating
'Something in the Water' is available now on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital
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