I found myself surprisingly interested in and even optimistic about this movie. It’s odd because a lot of things worked against it initially. The cast didn't have any huge stars, although I do appreciate some of Kristen Stewart’s performances—she, like Robert Pattinson, has people who dislike her work without giving it a fair chance—as well as other actors like Jessica Henwick. The director and screenwriter also didn’t immediately grab my attention; William Eubank hasn't yet made anything truly exceptional, and Brian Duffield co-wrote *Insurgent* (which was bad) but did write a surprisingly enjoyable horror script for *The Babysitter*. Adam Cozad has been involved in some disappointing stories (*The Legend of Tarzan*, *Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit*). Furthermore, I generally dislike films written by more than two people, and this one also came out in January. So, what made me a little excited about *Underwater*? The same reason many probably avoided it: the premise—a fairly standard horror-thriller set deep at the bottom of the ocean. I tend to be drawn to sci-fi films where a team working in a confined location has their work disrupted by some kind of creature or force. There’s something about that setup that I enjoy more than most people do. Usually, these movies have low budgets and need a skilled director who can create real tension and suspense. *Underwater* was the big surprise of 2020. January releases are often considered Hollywood's leftovers, so it’s shocking to find that this film is far from bad—it's actually very good! The set design and production values are impressive, contributing to a feeling of isolation and suspense. The opening minutes were genuinely tense, the next twenty minutes were great, and the following twenty continued to be entertaining. I kept being surprised by how well-made it was; I honestly couldn’t believe what I was watching. It's not a masterpiece or even a truly "great" film—it follows a plot-driven story that other movies have handled better. It borrows elements from *Alien*, *Cloverfield*, *20000 Leagues Under the Sea*, and every other movie about a crew threatened by an alien-like creature. The characters also aren't particularly well-developed; there’s no real effort to make you care deeply about any of them, but that doesn't prevent it from succeeding. Many plot-driven films have become classics anyway. The difference is that *Underwater* doesn’t really bring anything entirely new to the genre—it just uses familiar tropes and executes them exceptionally well, which itself is a surprise. I had a lot of fun watching this thriller. I expected dark lighting making it hard to see what was happening, but instead I got surprisingly clear, well-shot action sequences packed with tension, panic, and urgency. There aren't many moments to relax or catch your breath. The visual effects team and cinematographer Bojan Bazelli deserve a lot of credit because the “aliens” are visually striking and appear at just the right times for maximum impact. With a limited budget, the creatures needed to be shown mostly in shadow to create a sense of realism. That's an obvious technical consideration, but executing it well is difficult—so kudos to everyone involved in making the monsters genuinely frightening. The cast is excellent. Kristen Stewart seems to be shaking off her *Twilight* image and demonstrating she’s a talented actress. Jessica Henwick is also very good, as is Vincent Cassel. Everyone gives solid performances, even T.J. Miller, whose comic-relief character will likely annoy some viewers while amusing others (I think his role works fine). It's definitely a worthwhile sci-fi horror-thriller, much better than most January movies (being one of the last films released by 20th Century Fox probably meant Disney didn’t know what to do with it, hence releasing it in the worst month possible). I’ve added William Eubank to my list of directors to watch. His dedication to making a good film is evident on screen, and I hope his work finds an audience when it becomes available for home viewing. *Underwater* was 2020's (first) pleasant surprise. It’s a remarkably well-made sci-fi horror-thriller filled with tension, surprisingly clear action sequences, fantastic production design, and impressive visual effects. It isn't groundbreaking! It draws inspiration from better films in the same genre and follows a predictable, plot-driven story with minimal character development. However, it simply executes familiar elements very well—a surprising accomplishment in itself. The cast, led by Kristen Stewart, delivers some noteworthy performances, but the claustrophobic atmosphere and palpable suspense are what make this movie work. I’m still amazed at how good it is technically. I just wish there was a bit more character development so I could recommend it even more enthusiastically. For now, watch it in the best quality you can find. Rating: B

Source on TMDB