A film that is surrounded by airplanes and turbulence usually sets the tone for a suspenseful ride. Many in this genre tend to be predictable where some survive, and some do not, with it just being a matter of who will meet their fate and when. They can also drag down the torturous moments of danger. Not so withDeep Water though. This one is different and unique in its own sense. Directed by Renny Harlin, he has a moment where hippos are compared to airplanes. With that type of humor, there is a lot more that floats in the waters of Deep Water. Deep Water is an intense dive that more than just a plane crash movie, as it rocks the world of its audience with shaky waters and lots of sharks. Silly in moments, but monumental to the extent of heroism hitting it right.

The film’s main characters are Ben (Aaron Eckhart) and Rich (Sir Ben Kingsley). They are both pilots aboard a flight heading to Japan. Ben has some problems in his life and he hopes to make it home to his own family to deal with personal matters. Before he can do that though, he must deal with the next adventure aboard the plane he is flying. On the plane, a power port causes a malfunction, and the plane starts on fire inside. After that, the safety features fail, and the plane hits water. There are fragments of the plane floating around. There are also passengers that end up dead and some that end up surviving. Many of the survivors are injured. On top of that, there are sharks. The Tetris game of making it out alive and getting past the sharks is a rocking ride where the currents of the waters do not lie.

 

The words of Ben Kingsley, “BRACE FOR IMPACT,” rocked my ears throughout the film. His performance is limited, but his mentality plays that role in being the voice of never giving up. Lots of heroism falls onto Eckhart’s monumental performance. He has played many characters of authority in previous projects. One of which he also portrayed a pilot in the classic Clint Eastwood film, Sully. This time however, he is the pilot having to do more than just navigate the plane. He must ensure the passengers can work together with him. The writing is tight here in dealing with passengers, safety, and uncertainty is where my head was throbbing and aching—with wonders of excitement.

The film instantly felt like Snakes on a Plane meets Cast Away, only there is no dry land, and the animals are the sharks in the water. This comparison is because of how there are more dangers than just the aircraft going into a dive of awry. Deep Water tangles its components to keep survival as a tactic for its audiences to keep their helmets on for the ride. Yes, the film is that rocky.

Throughout the moments of Eckhart’s performance, he is the ultimate stud. His performance is one that includes moments of sacrifice in Deep Water. The writing is strong with tension of characters thinking of giving their own lives to save others. It is a surface that is shaky and then takes the audiences underneath itto unknown depths.  Deep Water lays out its uncharted territory to new and cinematic moments below the sea. I give this wild and suspenseful adventure three-and-a-half out of four stars.