A deep-sea thriller that failed at the box office but embraced Lovecraftian horror
In short: In 2020, the science fiction horror film Underwater followed a crew trapped at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Despite a high-profile cast led by Kristen Stewart and a creature design inspired by the mythos of H. P. Lovecraft, the film struggled with critics and underperformed at the box office.
Directed by William Eubank, Underwater tells the story of the Kepler 822, a drilling facility operated by Tian Industries. When an earthquake destroys part of the station, the surviving crew members, including mechanical engineer Norah Price and Captain Lucien, must walk across the ocean floor to reach another facility, Roebuck 641. During their perilous journey, they encounter hostile, previously undiscovered creatures that stalk them through the crushing depths.
The film's production was marked by a rapid schedule, with principal photography beginning in March 2017 in New Orleans. The director eventually chose to base the film's alpha creature on the Cthulhu mythos of H. P. Lovecraft. Despite these stylistic choices, the film received mixed reviews. Critics noted a sense of derivative storytelling, while audiences gave it a C grade on CinemaScore. Some reviewers, such as Owen Gleiberman, criticized the film for lacking dramatic depth, while others appreciated the creature design and jump-scares.
Released on January 10, 2020, the film was the final project released under the 20th Century Fox name before the studio rebranded. It was a financial disappointment, grossing $41 million worldwide against a production budget estimated between $50 million and $65 million. An alternate ending, in which Norah survives by escaping in a pod before the station explodes, was filmed but ultimately excluded from the theatrical release. In the version audiences saw, the film ends with news reports confirming only two survivors, while Tian Industries avoids accountability for the disaster.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Underwater (film)
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