Essentially a new monster movie that ironically touches on well-known quarantine movies Sea Fever features a bunch of people trapped in the middle of the ocean. This time the containment vessel is a trawler and its monster is a large parasitic creature from the depths of the sea. Steeped in science fiction and a good dose of horror, Sea Fever brings a story not dissimilar to 2020’s Underwater. Many will find similarities with movies like Alien and 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea. Each follows well-known creatures, the type related to Cnidaria jellyfish except on a massively larger scale.
In Sea Fever, you could apply the notion that the creature in question is only acting aggressively in its steadfast desire to survive. Instead of a creature that simply hunts prey, the large entity in this movie wants you to see it as something that doesn’t understand what it is and therefore should not be destroyed simply because of the harm it’s creating.
Sea Fever Movie Review
Sea Fever screened at TIFF in 2019. Certainly, it could be considered a coincidental representation of 2020’s global virus but the digital release timing seemed a little suspicious. Sea Fever even throws the concept of blind tribalism into the mix. More to the point, is protecting ourselves enough? Can we go further and protect everyone else as well? What if these two things are in conflict with each other? The story is very much on point with a lot of questions on everyone’s lips. This is a quarantine movie disguised as a monster movie. What the film lacks in engaging characters makes up for in showing the quandary many people face today.
Deep-Sea Monster Movies
Comparatively, this deep-sea monster movie has all the usual tropes you would expect. The type where someone makes a grievous error of judgment putting everyone at risk. Here it’s the captain of the trawler who steers the boat into a restricted area to scoop a bigger haul of fish. Later it’s the same decision-making that essentially puts everyone at risk when the severity of the crew’s situation is kept secret. The film overall is tense but somehow lacked an edge due to the unrefined characters.
Nevertheless, horror aficionados will get a kick out of the things this does right. Effects are well executed and nothing is over the top or underplayed.
Why Are Red Heads Bad Luck?
Onboard is Siobhán, a scientist who joined the expedition to do some research about marine life. Subsequently, the narrative uses Siobhán as the spokesperson for the sea creature. Like many movies made in the past few years, she is placed in the seat of the female hero. With this in mind, she’s the only fleshed-out character. After all, she’s a scientist with clear morals and knows right from wrong which is unusual for a story like this. Even though her character has the most personal detail, I didn’t root for her survival.
Post-Screening Event for Sea Fever
Afterward, I caught the question-and-answer post-screening event. Sea Fever’s director Neasa Hardiman explained that the crew’s disapproval of their new shipmate’s red hair is part of a historical superstition. Basically, Vikings were known to have robbed and pillaged the West Coast of Ireland and because of this, red hair is considered particularly bad luck.
Another key point is that the majority of the film was made on a sound stage. By the same token, you really can’t tell. Specifically, nuances you’d expect of a fishing boat are reenacted really well. The whole film is dark and wet and gloomy, for instance, just like you’d expect. Not to mention, there’s a definite feeling of being in a small space for a long period of time. Pushed up against other scenes which were shot in a tank where the vast expanse of the ocean is represented. Sea Fever was filmed over 29 days.
Overall, Sea Fever is a tidy 90-minute science-fiction horror movie that’s better than most.
I give Sea Fever
3.5 jellyfish monsters out of 5
Quarantine Movies, Sea Fever Trailer
Casting for Sea Fever (Quarantine Monster Movies):
- Connie Nielsen,
- Hermione Corfield,
- Dougray Scott,
- Olwen Fouéré,
- Jack Hickey,
- Ardalan Esmaili,
- Elie Bouakaze.
Additionally, this film is the directorial debut of Neasa Hardiman. She is well known for a range of tv series episodes (Jessica Jones and Inhumans) and short films. Available to buy or rent from a range of platforms.
Mother of Movies attended Sea Fever at the online premiere. Gunpowder and Sky released the thriller movie, Sea Fever from their newly established Dust channel. I purchased my ticket and watched it live online on 10th April in my lounge room. Sometimes the apocalypse has some advantages.
