Summary:
- “Under Paris”: Shark movie with a twist in the heart of Paris.
- Draws from “Jaws,” social media scares, SyFy tropes for inspiration.
- Struggles with CGI, budget constraints, but offers unique setting and premise.
Summer is here, and with it comes the urge to curl up indoors and watch a good old-fashioned shark movie. Netflix is diving into the genre with their new release, “Under Paris,” a French-language twist on the classic shark thriller.
Under Paris” takes the familiar shark movie formula and throws it a curveball. Instead of the usual ocean setting, the terror unfolds in the heart of Paris, with the Seine River becoming the unlikely hunting ground for a killer shark. The film even ventures beneath the city, exploring the creepy Parisian catacombs as a potential shark lair.
The movie draws inspiration from a variety of sources. It taps into our primal fear of the unknown lurking beneath the surface, a fear often ignited by childhood encounters with movies like “Jaws.” It also plays on the occasional social media scare and the “SyFy trope” of creatures appearing in unexpected places.
“Under Paris” cleverly subverts expectations. Unlike most shark movies that keep the creature hidden to build suspense, this film relocates the fear to familiar, everyday bodies of water like rivers and swimming pools, upping the potential for real-life encounters.
A core challenge for shark movies lies in striking a balance between scares and believability. While audiences crave the thrill of seeing giant, menacing sharks, they also want the effects to be convincing. Jaws” mastered this balance by keeping the shark largely hidden, while “The Shallows” focused on Blake Lively‘s performance to keep the audience engaged even when the shark wasn’t present.
“Under Paris” unfortunately stumbles in this area. Presumably due to budget constraints, the film limits screen time for the sharks. While director Xavier Gens attempts to build suspense around the unseen threat, the lack of a looming danger makes it hard to stay invested. Perhaps this is because the Seine itself isn’t exactly an inviting body of water, unlike the vast, mysterious ocean.
The movie eventually delivers on the promise of shark action, with the characters taking on the underwater menace. However, the special effects fall flat. The CGI sharks look more like something from a Syfy movie than a major streaming platform release.
“Under Paris” doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. The budgetary limitations are evident, and the suspense falters at times. However, the unique Parisian setting and the ridiculous premise offer a fun, albeit flawed, summer shark movie experience.
