Summer belongs to sharks. We tend to flock to the beach and enjoy the warmer waters that summer brings, and a certain 1975 summer blockbuster taught us that we should be afraid of the toothsome cold-blooded predators that are likely swimming in the water with us. It created a wave of copycats and a subgenre of horror on its own, and summer horror hasn’t been the same since.
This summer brings 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, director/co-writer Johannes Roberts’ follow up to his 2017 sleeper hit, 47 Meters Down. Swimming into theaters on August 15, Uncaged expands the terror by seeing four divers enclosed in a claustrophobic system of submerged caves. That alone would be enough to send anxiety levels into overdrive, but they soon discover they’ve ventured into the territory of the deadliest species of sharks.
In anticipation, we look back at the best shark-themed films horror has to offer; from Jaws to 47 Meters Down.
Jaws
The granddaddy of all shark movies didn’t just make generations afraid to go into the water, it birthed the summer blockbuster. Steven Spielberg’s seminal shark horror film delivered high stakes, character drama, tension, and pure shark terror all set to an iconic score when it pit one mean great white against a trio of unlikely heroes. Jaws is the ultimate summer horror film.
Jaws 2
This sequel is a worthwhile follow up to the granddaddy of all shark horror films. Roy Scheider returns as Chief Martin Brody, and once again the Mayor doesn’t believe him when he realizes a great white shark is terrorizing Amity Island. This time, Brody’s battle with the shark is much more personal; it’s his family that winds up in peril. A little less suspenseful than the first, this sequel ups the ante in terms of shark attacks. Not even a helicopter is safe from the shark this time. Jaws 2 is a great follow up that doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves.
Deep Blue Sea
Often dubbed as the best shark movie since Jaws, director Renny Harlin’s big-budget action horror is a total blast. Instead of the typical great white sharks, the genetically enhanced sharks at the center of this one are massive mako sharks. Set in an underwater research facility out in the deep blue, these mako sharks are tired of being research subjects and long for the open ocean. So, naturally, they team up to break out, destroying anyone in their path. A special effects spectacle with unexpected deaths and high body count, Deep Blue Sea is definitive summer blockbuster entertainment.
Open Water
Compared to most shark films, this one is a bit calmer. Much of its runtime is focused on couple Susan and Daniel as they’re accidentally left behind during an open water scuba excursion. They face dehydration, the elements, and infighting as they struggle emotionally with their situation all while sharks slowly begin to circle for dinner. Open Water opts for more realistic shark behavior and uses real sharks, which means the shark attacks are a lot less flashy than just about every other shark movie. If you’re afraid of the open water, though, this one is quite effective. Bleak and based on a true story, Open Water is one of the more unique shark movies out there. If you’d like something with a bit more frenzy and bite, skip straight to Open Water 3: Cage Dive.
The Reef
If you liked the concept of Open Water but perhaps found it a bit too slow, The Reef should be more your speed. This Australian horror film follows a group of people who decide the only way to survive after their boat capsizes is to make a lengthy swim to the closest island. The swim is daunting enough, as the island is 12 miles away, but the waters are also infested with sharks. Like Open Water, this one is also based on a true story and uses actual shark footage over special effects. Unlike Open Water, this one has a higher body count and even more nail-biting suspense. These apex predators are relentless.
Bait
The very premise of this one sounds so much sillier than it turned out to be; a tsunami traps a group of people inside a coastal supermarket along with great white sharks. Let that sink in. Sharks. In a supermarket. Yet it works. This Singaporean-Australian co-production has familiar horror faces, namely Sharni Vinson (You’re Next) and Xavier Samuel (The Loved Ones) as the leads. The characters are likable, and the setting provides some new ways for the sharks to surprise. In other words, Bait is a ton of fun.
The Shallows
One of horror’s most underrated directors is Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax, Orphan). His talent for building suspense works well for a feature length thriller that has only three main characters: Nancy Adams (Blake Lively), a monstrous great white shark, and an injured bird named Steven Seagull. While surfing at an isolated, hidden beach in Mexico, a shark attack leaves Nancy stranded, injured, and alone while the shark lurks nearby. Collet-Serra takes a less is more approach, keeping Nancy’s survival at the forefront of the story. The shark is menacing and cunning, and the finale is over the top entertaining. The Shallows takes a small-scale story and turns it into an epic summer horror film with B-movie flair.
47 Meters Down
As if hungry sharks aren’t enough to contend with, sisters Lisa (Mandy Moore) and Kate (Claire Holt) must contend with oxygen deprivation too. On a spontaneous dive trip post-break-up, the sisters are trapped below when the cable to their dive cage snaps. It’s sharks that prevent an easy rescue, thwarting their chances for survival as narcosis becomes a serious problem. 47 Meters Down boasts one of the most terrifying shark scares in recent memory and isn’t afraid to go dark.
47 Meters Down: Uncaged aims to double down on the shark induced scares on August 15, 2019.