Survive: Gestrandet im Ozean

First, I have to say the events in Survive were quite different from what I expected based on the trailer. The basic plot-of the ocean suddenly retreating and the main characters finding themselves at the bottom of the exposed seabed-was as advertised, but pretty much everything that happened afterward took a different direction. On the plus side, it turned out to be a post-apocalyptic survival movie, and it was far more unpredictable than I imagined.

Overall, the acting is decent, but the main characters are absolutely beyond annoying. They frustrated me so much that I couldn't help but shout at the screen while watching. There are two things I really dislike in post-apocalyptic horror/action thriller/disaster movies: extremely irritating characters who do everything they shouldn't, and the tendency for survivors to turn on each other. Survive has plenty of both.

I really liked the core idea of the retreating sea and the characters going on a survival adventure on what used to be the ocean floor. It's a somewhat unique concept, and it reminded me of a sci-fi comic book I read as a kid that had a similar premise. However, the actual execution of the film wasn't great. The special effects are solid-I have no complaints there-but the story had so much untapped potential.

Survive also includes plenty of subtle nods to iconic blockbusters. For example, the family's boat is named Orca, just like the one used to hunt the shark in Jaws. At one point, a character says, "We're all going to die down here"-a line made famous by the Resident Evil series and overused in many other films. There's also a scene with a submarine and a massive wave that reminded me of Interstellar, and so on.

That said, the biggest surprise for me was that most of the dialogue is in French. This wasn't obvious at all from the trailer-they probably compiled most of the English lines into it. So, be prepared to read subtitles if you don't understand French.

Overall, I expected more, but Survive wasn't that bad. In fact, I think the rating it has should be a bit higher.

A Gripping, Realistic Apocalyptic Drama for a Selective Audience This low-budget, apocalyptic movie stands out for its refreshing approach to the genre. By focusing on a family's survival story, led by a courageous female character, the film delivers a gripping narrative that eschews sensational disaster scenes and special effects.

Shot on real locations, the movie's grounded realism immerses the viewer in the world of the story. The method acting is impressive, adding depth to the characters' struggles.

While this film may not appeal to everyone, it will resonate with a selective audience seeking a more nuanced, character-driven apocalyptic drama. The pacing is well-balanced, making for a compelling watch.

Overall, I'd rate this movie 3/5. It's not a masterpiece, but its unique perspective and realistic approach make it a worthy watch for fans of independent cinema. In fact, the story has enough potential to be developed into a series, exploring the characters' journeys in more depth. Sudden End to Story wasn't expecting :(

I watch this movie because it is the last one starring the poor Emilie Dequenne, before her death in March 2025. Surprising science fiction, dystopic, a new kind of films since several years, one decade now. And I am afraid that will increase in the future. This film is rather brave, daring for a French film, but that's not the first of this kind. I don't remember the other titles, but this plot sounds familiar to me. The feature ENFIN SEULS, starring Gilles Lelouche, seems to be rather close to this one. Curious film, but worth the watch. French film industry does its best to propose modern topics. RIP Emilie. Your last film was a modern action woman character, a role that you never had before. I will miss you very much.

If they hired someone who could tell a story, this could have been at least a decent movie. It had conditions for it. There is pornography with better screenwriting. The only good thing about this movie is the deceiving trailer. In my opinion the director and the screenwriter shoud be banned from the film industry. This is so, so, but so bad. Its an insult to anyone´s intelect. If you intend to watch this, consider yourself warned. Try a reality show or those late night tv sales. Its more satisfying. I feel so cheated that I wrote a critic for the first time in my life, just because I couldn´t let this slide.

So many stupid plot holes and stupid scenarios it starts to drag early in.

The stupid father, the really stupid kids who continually get themselves into trouble, the daughter in particular is really annoying.

The herd of carnivorous rampaging crabs is so ridiculous it is laughable, they move at a breathtaking pace and eat meat ? Where did they come from ? Outer space ?

Other stupid bits : within days of the disaster everything looks a 100 years old, the few humans that survive all want to kill each other, on sight, immediately, without thought. Where did all the dead fish go ? How did one little boat survive ? When will the family stop crying & screaming ? Way too much emotion, over and over. When did the mum become a crack shot ? How many triumphant moments within moments of despair can one film have ?

And then the sea comes back to round a fun holiday off, just silly.