Into the Deep

I really wanted to like this movie. Director Christian Sesma has made a bit of a name for himself in low budget, indie, action and Scout Taylor-Compton has worked on a number of low budget, indie flicks. I like that commitment to the thinner edge of the film making wedge.

I wondered throughout the movie why Richard Dreyfus agreed to it. There's a lecture on shark conservation during the closing credits that answers that.

In the end though, it's just not very good. The dialogue is weak, the effects are poor and it offers nothing really to the pretty saturated genre of shark movies. Some friends get coerced into diving in shark infested waters by some modern pirates. The leader of which is so over-the-top I just couldn't invest. The main protagonist has a tragic backstory involving sharks and there are a number of flashback scenes where she remembers how she came to terms with the dangers of the ocean. This culminates in a literal face off with a shark that just might be the movie's highlight and low point at the same time.

I'm really trying hard to find something to like but I'm forcing it. It just isn't any good.

Of course I had not heard about this 2025 movie from director Christian Sesma prior to watching it. But I was immediately drawn in by the movie's cover, as I am a sucker for shark movies, despite the fact that the vast majority of shark movies are questionable affairs, let's just be honest about it. But I still opted to watch "Into the Deep", as it was a movie that I had never heard about.

The storyline in the movie was okay. I mean, it wasn't as if writers Chad Law and Josh Ridgway revolutionized the shark genre by any means. But the storyline was adequately entertaining for what it was, though it was somewhat generic. And in all honesty, don't we measure all shark movies up against the mother of all shark movies "Jaws" whether we want to or not?

Of the entire cast ensemble, I was only familiar with Richard Dreyfuss and Jon Seda. It was actually nice to see Richard Dreyfuss return to a shark-themed movie. The acting performances in the movie were good.

The effects in "Into the Deep" were good. At least director Christian Sesma didn't opt to use stock footage of sharks, which generally just dumbs down a movie unnecessarily so.

Watchable, for sure, if you enjoy shark movies, but hardly a noteworthy foray into the shark-infested depths. It is not a movie that particularly warrants more than just a single viewing either.

My rating of "Into the Deep" lands on a five out of ten stars.

If you love shark movies, you will probably watch this regardless of the reviews. This is nowhere as good as The Shallows or as fun as Deep Blue Sea, but it's better than most shark movies we get. Is it good? No, but for shark movie fans worth a watch on a lazy Sunday or with some friends (drinks encouraged!) who like bad movies. The main cast all do an adequate job. It is always nice to see Richard Dreyfuss, but his character (the leads grandfather, mostly seen in flashbacks) isn't really needed in the film. The Shark FX range from pretty good to pretty bad depending on the scene, but are generally better than most modern low budget Shark films. There is a good amount of Shark footage, though there actions are not believable. There is a lot of CGI blood, but not much actual gore. As for the story, it's basic but serviceable and gets our cast out in the ocean to be fed upon by sharks patrolling the same waters as drug dealers trying to obtain their sunken drugs. If you aren't a shark film fan, skip this unless you like bad movies, but if you are give it a watch (just keep expectations low).

If you're looking for a shark movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, Into the Deep (2025) falls short. The film relies on predictable tropes, with scares that don't land and a story that doesn't bring anything fresh to the genre. The characters lack depth, and the visual effects, while not terrible, don't make up for the lack of tension.

That said, it's not entirely unwatchable. If you're in the mood for something mindless to fill some time, it's serviceable as casual entertainment. Just don't expect to be thrilled or deeply engaged. For shark movie fans, it might scratch the itch, but it's not a standout. It's the kind of movie you can have on in the background, but it won't leave a lasting impression.

I enjoyed the movie. Not the best shark movie I've seen, however I must say that the message that Richard Dryfess teaches his granddaughter and others in the movie about how the ocean is their territory, is amazing and so true!! I must say that his message to the audience at the end about ocean conservation and how sharks are beneficial to our ecosystems, was something that everyone should see and be educated in, especially with how they are more beneficial to us alive than dead. Please support and donate towards ocean conservation and please stop consuming shark fin soup and stop killing sharks. We need them more than we know and even though they are terrifying in movies, they should be more terrified of us in real life!! Thank you Richard, you're correct!!