Reef Builders

"Reef Builders is a 76-minute Prime Video documentary that shows how coral-reef restoration has grown from scattered pilot projects into a truly global effort. Directors Anne Cutaia and Sophie Peyrard follow marine biologists, divers, and coastal communities from Indonesia to Kenya as they install thousands of delicate steel "reef-star" frames on damaged seabeds and seed them with young corals. Rare archival material-such as early sketches of the first reef-star prototypes-blends with high-resolution macro footage that reveals every polyp tentacle, immersing viewers in a world normally reserved for scientists.

The film's multi-perspective approach is a major strength. Fishing families, tourism operators, and research teams describe their sometimes-contradictory needs, making it clear that saving reefs is as much a socio-economic issue as an ecological one.

Yet the documentary is not without blind spots. Its corporate backing-most prominently from a large pet-food brand-is mentioned only in a brief disclaimer, with little discussion of potential greenwashing. Likewise, controversies over steel frames or possible side effects such as overtourism receive only passing mention, where deeper journalistic digging would have been helpful.

Visually, though, the production remains cohesive: vivid cobalt and turquoise reef tones never slip into glossy promo style, and a restrained synth score adds urgency without melodrama. Because each stream donates directly to restoration initiatives, watching feels like immediate action. Despite some omissions, Reef Builders offers an important, emotionally resonant snapshot that proves conservation stories can feature genuine success alongside sobering losses.

Reef Builders wants to be a powerful environmental documentary, but it ends up feeling more like a glorified slideshow with a monotone voiceover. While the subject-restoring coral reefs and marine ecosystems-is undeniably important, the film's execution is surprisingly lackluster. The narration is dull, the pacing is glacial, and the lack of narrative structure makes it hard to stay engaged.

Visually, there are a few gorgeous underwater shots that briefly breathe life into the film, but even those are few and far between. The editing is choppy, often repeating footage or lingering too long on unimpressive scenes. Interviews with marine biologists and conservationists are scattered and underdeveloped, leaving you with more questions than answers.

There's passion behind the project, but it's buried under poor storytelling and a documentary style that feels more like a high school project than a professional production. In the end, Reef Builders is a missed opportunity-informative in spurts, but ultimately a slog to sit through.