I was just browsing through r/OceansAreFuckingLit [WARNING: REDDIT LINK] and was inspired by the amount of sea creatures that are, quite frankly, frightening as they are majestic. It made me think that it would make a great horror movie. Can anyone provide some recommendations? Thanks!
Deep Blue Sea, top tier performance by LL Cool J (and his parrot) as the Chef.
DBS 1 is a classic, 2 is awful, but 3 brings it back to fun b horror again
…they made sequels? lol…i had no idea
I always liked Sphere (1998). Not an award winner, but good cast, and definitely has the creepy underwater thalassophobia vibe.
I enjoyed Underwater
A few older ones come to mind.
Jaws is maybe an obvious one, unless deep ocean is the main priority.
The Abyss is another one, from 1989, directed by James Cameron.
I saw both of them when I was a kid and they were really memorable. I haven’t watched either in several years but I would watch them again. Especially The Abyss.
Less “great” and more “mediocre 1980s slasher with an inaccurate title,” Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan is mostly set on a small cruise ship on the way to Manhattan. I actually hated it when I was younger because of the misleading title, but I watched it again last year and I liked it more. I just had to adjust my expectations that it was actually Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Murders The Kids On A Boat. Obviously, the killer is Jason and not an animal, but I thought it was slightly better than it gets credit for.
Horrors movies in the ocean that uses sea creatures as the “slasher”
- Jaws I and II
- The Creature from the Black Lagoon (not exactly the ocean)
- The Deep (it is not a horror movie, it is a thriller that uses the ocean extensively. There is a sea creature that plays a role though) Even though it doesn’t fit your criteria it is so good!
- Humanoids from the Deep. (God this one is just so bad, but it fits your criteria)
Not so much about sea life, but:
- Open Water
- Last Breath
Dead Calm is a favorite of mine.
The Dive (2023) was a pretty good movie, although it’s more of a thriller than horror.
The Deep House (2021) was a great supernatural horror movie about diving in a house at the bottom of a lake. Not the right body of water, but it takes place in it.
Leviathan
I enjoyed Virus (1999) and Ghost Ship (2002). Hopefully you will enjoy them, too.
Soma (Let’s Play) by Frictional Games
The Black Demon (2023) and on the more mainstream side The Meg (2018)
the “alien eels” on a research station, that produces electricity, and ends with a cliffhanger they transmit a signal into space. forgot the name.
Leviathan is great B-Movie shlock fun if you’re into that.
