Underwater (2020) is a science fiction horror thriller directed by William Eubank, known for his work on films like The Signal (2014). Set in the deep oceanic trenches, this film explores themes of survival, fear, and the unknown, offering a tense, claustrophobic experience as the characters face unimaginable horrors beneath the sea.
The film opens with a massive underwater drilling rig in the Mariana Trench, where the crew works under extreme pressure and isolation. Norah Price (played by Kristen Stewart), a mechanical engineer, is one of the survivors when a catastrophic earthquake causes the rig to collapse, plunging the remaining crew members deep into the ocean floor. The crew is cut off from their only escape route, leaving them with no option but to venture through the treacherous ocean depths to reach a nearby drilling station that promises safety.
As Norah and the surviving members of the crewโCaptain Lucien (played by Vincent Cassel), Emily (Jessica Henwick), Paul (T.J. Miller), and Linh (John Gallagher Jr.)โmake their way through the wreckage of the rig, they realize that their biggest danger may not be the collapsing structure or the crushing depths of the ocean. The deeper they go, the more they encounter strange, hostile creatures lurking in the dark corners of the deep sea. It becomes clear that something ancient and terrifying is hidden beneath the ocean floor.
Norah, who has been grieving the loss of her fiancรฉ, begins to take on a leadership role. As they make their way toward their only chance for survival, she faces physical and emotional challenges, confronting not only the perilous environment but also the terrifying creatures stalking them. Each step brings them closer to the horrors of the deep, and the group must work together to survive, while Norah is forced to confront her personal demons.
The filmโs tension is built through its limited setting and a constant sense of claustrophobia, with much of the action taking place inside tight, damaged corridors or beneath the dark and mysterious waters of the ocean. As the crew attempts to repair their damaged suits and figure out how to get to safety, they encounter increasingly violent and grotesque sea creatures, including a strange and menacing species that has evolved in the depths.
