There have been some strong contenders, but few have landed anywhere near the seaside town of Amity. Look no further than movies like Sharknado or Trailer Park Sharks for perfect evidence that the horror subgenre practically birthed by Jaws has grown a bit long in the (shark) tooth. Where any given aquatic horror will land in the rankings widely varies. The deluge of killer shark schlock occasionally gives us an outstanding gem (see: last year’s memorable Dangerous Animals.) Prime Video’s newest effort thankfully doesn’t try to touch the greats, but instead embraces entertainment value and tourist trappings. In The Devil’s Mouth, 47 Meters Down meets The Descent as a group of attractive teens become lost in a dangerous Thailand cavern with an aggressive bull shark. Silly but engaging, The Devil’s Mouth bites into aquatic horror with determination and gripping atmospheric tension.
A group of friends charter a boat for the weekend, ready to explore the caves along a stunning stretch of coastline. At the encouragement of her best friend, Max (Lana Condor), Sara (Kathryn Newton) has reluctantly agreed to come along for the excursion, still grieving the loss of her father. Max is a polar opposite to Sara, controlling and impulsive. Newton always delights in these genre flicks, and Condor brings an ambitious charisma to Max that makes her annoying overconfidence slightly more palatable. The five friends meet up with a scuba diver and their cave guide, Watt (Tayme Thapthimthong); where Sara wants to take the easy, beginner’s section of the cave, Max insists they go on the more advanced and dangerous red path. What’s the worst that could happen?
Trapped in a flooded cave system, the moment a droplet of blood hits the water, it attracts the attention of a ravenous bull shark. Director Jeff Wadlow choreographs the setup by emphasizing an ominious aura of impending doom. Though many of his films have received mixed to negative reviews, both 2005’s Cry_Wolf and Truth or Dare are fun, wildly entertaining movies that are endlessly rewatchable. The jagged entrance to the cave resembling a giant mouth and razor-sharp teeth might be an obvious visual motif, but it’s also a strong and impactful one. The isolation and claustrophobia are also effective, as Wadlow utilizes every cavern-lit chamber and narrow passage to his advantage. There’s no telling what may be lurking around each stalagmite. That location is the star player here, constantly forcing its characters into tighter, darker spaces as the shark lurks near their location.
If the actual caves are the main attraction, then the characters themselves are certainly less dynamic. Guessing who the film’s final girl will be can probably be done with your eyes closed. These are all traditional archetypes except for Sara and Max, fitting better as tropes that are pawns in the movie’s machinations. There’s the reckless friend, the reluctant leader, and the idiotic decisions made along the way. The boyfriends have very little texture, and The Summer I Turned Pretty hunk Gavin Casalegno’s Greg character has basically one jock mode and a random fear of blood. Still, their simplicity actually makes the ensemble endearing to watch, and even more satisfying to see mauled by a massive creature. There’s nothing too gnarly, but each attack comes with a burst of intensity.
The confined cave system naturally limits the options on where to take the story, and The Devil’s Mouth takes every opportunity to make excellent use of its environment. The map as they snake through the different areas is represented onscreen as a visual overlay, similar to a modern video game map. The shark itself never overstays its welcome, becoming a dangerous entity with brutal thrashing and razor-sharp teeth. Though undoubtedly a fully CGI creation, the shark looks good too, and remains convincing up to the final confrontation. The Devil’s Mouth manages to execute a familiar formula with an assured hand. The friendship between Sara and Max and the suspenseful shark attacks make for a surprisingly good survival thriller worthy of a dive deep into its watery depths.
Traverse the caves of The Devil’s Mouth, sinking its teeth into Prime Video on Wednesday, July 29th.
