47 Meters Down: Movie Review

It’s been one week shy of a full year since the multiplexes were graced with the killer shark film, “The Shallows”.   Unlike that film where one woman was terrorized by a CGI killer shark, “47 Meters Down” features two women terrorized by multiple CGI killer sharks.   I am honestly having trouble figuring out which film was better or worse. “The Shallows” felt a bit more polished and seemed to have a larger budget to work with.  However, two main characters trying to survive a shark attack felt a bit more entertaining.

Director Johannes Roberts (“The Other Side of the Door”) hasn’t made what I consider a good film as of yet, but I am hoping his upcoming sequel to “The Strangers” breaks that trend since I am a fan of the original.  “47 Meters Down” is his best film to date, but that isn’t saying a whole lot.

The story centers on Lisa (Mandy Moore) and Kate (Claire Holt), sisters who are on vacation in Mexico.   Lisa is upset that her boyfriend dumped her for being boring. To help get her older sibling out of a funk, Kate takes her out dancing where they meet a couple of guys that talk them into going shark cage diving.  Lisa is hesitant as she likes to play things safe, but of course she gives in to Kate.

The next day Kate and Lisa join the guys they met and the shark cage operator Taylor (Matthew Modine) for a fun time seeing sharks.  As you have seen from the trailers, the cable snaps and the cage that is holding the two women plunges 47 meters down to the ocean floor. With air running out, and sharks circling the cage, Lisa and Kate must figure out a way to get back to the surface.

One of the things I liked about “47 Meters Down” is that there were a few things that I did not see coming. Unfortunately, the surprises did not outweigh the several lulls in the story as-well-as some truly awful dialogue.  The theater burst out laughing when Lisa blurt-out, “The shark almost got me”.  Granted, that probably what any of us would say in that situation, but for the sake of filmmaking, a better line could have been conjured up.

If you are a fan of killer shark movies, “47 Meters Down” is adequate at best, with some fun shark action. However this one should have gone straight to VOD rather than released in theaters.

By: Marc Ferman