This film has the makings of nightmare fodder for me: a jet crash in the ocean followed by shark attacks.  Still, I decided to brave the waters because I try to face my oceanic fears and see just about every shark movie at least once.  Okay, I’ve seen this one.  On to the next.

Renny Harlin’s film follows the path of the “Airport” films of the 1970s, watching a disparate group of passengers board and try to enjoy a flight while the crew (the bigger stars in this case) tries to get them there safely.  But because of one foolish passenger the plane catches fire and crashes into the sea near Guam.  Some folks survive but soon face danger in the water as hungry sharks close in on the easy prey.

The first part of the drama is rather boring, and it becomes clear that pilot Ben Kingsley and copilot Aaron Eckhart are much better than their material.  Finally, the smoldering issue in the cargo hold bursts into being and for about ten minutes the movie makes good on its premise.  The crew methodically tries to put out the fire, to no avail, and the jet prepares to crash.  This is easily the best section of the film and it is harrowing.  The crash itself is well done, except for the unlikely (and all too convenient) coral reef that rips the jet to shreds while also allowing it to remain on the surface.  What happened to the “Deep Water” of the title?

When the sharks begin to appear things look awfully bleak for the survivors, which of course makes for good suspense.  But the sharks are predictably phony, the attacks are not well photographed and their pattern is either insensible or too obvious, one or the other.  The only other really good scene arrives with the rescue helicopter (shades of Jaws 2).  In fact, so much of this film is reminiscent of earlier Renny Harlin movies (Die Hard 2, Deep Blue Sea) that this one never seems more than a guilty pleasure.  And there’s really not that much pleasure involved.  ☆ ☆.  27 August 2026.