Right from the start, you’re in a coastal town staring down a Category 5 hurricane, and just when you think it’s your standard disaster setup, the floodwaters bring sharks with them. Yes, actual sharks swimming through streets. It’s a fun hook, and honestly, for a bit, you’re on board.
Tommy Wirkola directs with that familiar mix of sincerity and pulp. If you’ve seen his earlier stuff, you’ll recognise the tone, though here it doesn’t always land consistently. Phoebe Dynevor does a solid job keeping things grounded, reacting in a way that feels believable even when everything around her isn’t. Whitney Peak adds a bit more bite, and Djimon Hounsou brings presence, though he’s not given loads to do, which feels like a waste.
The problem is, it never quite builds properly. You’ll get a tense moment, then it drifts. The shark scenes should be the main event, but the effects are hit and miss, and you can feel it when the illusion breaks. There’s one sequence in a flooded house that really should have been the standout, and instead it kind of fizzles.
The script doesn’t help much either. Characters make decisions that feel more convenient than convincing, and you might catch yourself questioning things you probably shouldn’t need to.
If you’re in the mood for something daft and easy, there’s some fun here. It just never goes as far as it should. Could have been wild. Plays it safe.