BIGGER. SMARTER. FASTER. MEANER.

A bad storm strikes a scientific base in the middle of the ocean, setting loose a bunch of genetically enhanced sharks.

Director Renny Harlin doesn’t hold back, offering lots of nail-biting, watery scenes that are mercilessly interrupted by quick, vicious attacks. The CGI sharks are well crafted; smarter and faster than in real life, they are the stand-out of a thin screenplay. Tension builds thanks to the isolated environment. Even if the characters are shallow, they’re easy to take to; LL Cool J stands out as the chef.

All in all, this is delicious popcorn entertainment – any pretensions would have killed it. 

1999-U.S. 105 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Renny Harlin. Cast: Thomas Jane (Carter Blake), Saffron Burrows (Susan McAlester), Samuel L. Jackson (Russell Franklin), Jacqueline McKenzie, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, LL Cool J. Cameo: Ronny Cox. 

Trivia: The movie’s three sharks are killed off the same way as in the first three Jaws movies. Followed by two direct-to-DVD sequels, starting with Deep Blue Sea 2 (2018).

Quote: “What you’ve done is taken God’s oldest killing machine and given it will and desire. What you’ve done is knocked us all the way to the bottom of the goddamn food chain. It’s not a great leap forward in my book.” (Jane)