“47 Meters Down” is contrived, simplistic fun.
Two sisters, Lisa (Mandy Moore) and Kate (Claire Holt) become trapped in an underwater cage while vacationing in Mexico. While their depleting oxygen limits their time, a swarm of aggressive sharks limit their options. In a race against time and wits, they must fight to survive.
Cinematics (Cinematography, Acting, Plot, etc.) – 2
The typical shark movie with stereotypical characters. “47 Meters Down” has a foundation of formulaic, predictable plot elements that may provide fun but little value. Everything feels like one single act scattered with cheap moments to appease its horror/thriller genre rather than audiences.
With that said, it does appeal to its niche audience with a series of heart-pounding moments of suspense. That is supplemented by rich underwater visuals accompanied with some well placed camera angles. Both the vastness of the deep ocean and the claustrophobic confinement of the main characters are visually well depicted. But while the shots are well done, there is a redundant, stagnant element throughout as the scenes rarely change. The audience is just as confined as the characters which is the intent, but also requires focusing on a static scene for almost an hour.
The unique premise that induces claustrophobic panic is the focus of this film. The character story and any further development are superseded by this element as well. This left little room for range from Mandy Moore or Claire Holt which made me wonder why they didn’t save the budget and cast lesser known actors.
“47 Meters Down” is a simple “jump-scare” film that serves its purpose according to its genre, but is lazy on a cinematic level.
Entertainment Value – 3
As mentioned, specific horror lovers should be a bit more engaged than others. But most audiences should be able to appreciate the unique simplicity of this film. Most of the film is predictable but that doesn’t mean there is an absence of enjoyment. If you allow yourself to become engulfed in the film then the suspense of survival should be more than enough to help pass the time. Between the characters’ oxygen depleting and the anticipation of shark attack, “47 Meters Down” is simple, yet unfulfilling fun.
Re-Watchability – 3
This is one of those simple films that has the potential to find a cult-level of satisfying “rewatchability.” It’s formulaic but in the way that some audiences tend to enjoy. There are only a handful of films that incorporate both claustrophobic and predatorial elements in a film dealing with sharks, so that alone deserves at least one revisit.