Quick Reviews: 47 Meters Down

While everyone is still thinking about Sharks, I might as well get around to doing this one...

2 Sisters go on a Vacation to Mexico together...but one of them just got dumped by their boyfriend for being 'too boring.'

To spice things up, the other Sister wants them to go Shark Diving in a Cage.  The other one has literally never even dived before...but is coerced into doing it.

Things go wrong, however, as the winch breaks and the cage falls to the bottom of the current ocean floor level.  Guess how many meters it is.

So now they are trapped in a cage and, oh look, a guest.

Still trapped and the rescue options are slim.  What can they do?

Can the 'shy' sister step up and prove her bravery?  Will they survive?

Or will the sharks get a nice brunch?

To find out, watch the Film.

If I was ever dumb enough to try this before, I'm definitely not going to now!  Are the odds of this actual thing happening pretty high?  No.  Do I care?  Hell no!  Getting past my own logical Phobias, this one really delivers as far as atmosphere and tension.  The sharks are obviously a big part of the Film, but they also don't hang around all the time.  They could have easily had them lurking more apparently in more shots, but they chose not to.  Good choice.  This way, when the sharks appear, it is a big, dramatic deal.  You don't get 'used' to them (as much as you ever could in this scenario) and their appearances are all the more dramatic because of it.  They show up at big moments and move very quickly.  The Film makes great use of the watery environment, giving you long, dark shots where you never know when (or if) a shark is going to appear.  Without SPOILing anything, the Film goes in an interesting direction in the Third Act.  I really can't say more, other than to mention how obvious the foreshadowing is in hindsight.  When it is all clear, you go 'Oh, duh.'  Personally, I think the Film is better for it.  I know that some people probably disagree and that's alright.  47 Meters Down is a great Film as far as being tense and dramatic goes.  It walk that fine line between being a real scenario that could happen- like Adam Greens' Frozen or Black Water- and still being an interesting Film too.  It is far better than stuff like Open Water 2!  Even so, it is still not going to be for everyone.  Just remember- now matter how scared you may be of Sharks, they still aren't the real predator here...

A good, tense Film that exploits a natural fear.  The Third Act may make or break it for you though.