Into the Deep (2025) — Sharks, Pirates, and Lost Potential
Into the Deep (2025) splashes sharks, pirates & Richard Dreyfuss into 90 min of brain-off mayhem. Mother of Movies review dives into the chaos.
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Pirates, Sharks, and the Persistent Power of Bad Decisions
Into the Deep washed up on streaming in January, and, full disclosure, I’ll watch almost any shark flick. Pair that with Richard Dreyfuss cameo-dust and, well, nostalgia can cloud judgment faster than chum clouds water. Sadly, nostalgia alone can’t keep this vessel afloat. I will warn you ahead of time, that Into the Deep is a spoiler review. For those wanting the final rating, see that next.
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When Trauma, Pirates & Sharks Collide
Marine-biologist Cassidy (Scout Taylor-Compton) figures the best therapy for lifelong shark trauma is… diving near Madagascar for sunken treasure with brand-new hubby Gregg. Someone says something about it being the anniversary of his Grandfather saying he also did this diving trip. This was exactly a decade ago, but how that makes it better is beyond me. Therapy bills would be cheaper, but here we are. Childhood flashbacks (three different actors for one character, speed-run filmmaking!) remind us that dad was lunch, mum drowned, and that’s all the emotional baggage we need.
Credit to cinematographer Anthony J. Rickert-Epstein: Indonesian vistas glow, night fires glare off black water, and underwater shots flirt with art-house moodiness. The visuals deserve a tighter script.
“Modern-day pirates” materialise, cigar-chomping clichés who neutralise a gun-mounted patrol boat like they’re on cheat mode. Any hint of genuine menace evaporates under G.I. Joe dialogue. Captain Daemon (Jon Seda) takes a bullet, pops back later in nothing but a towel, and yes, I snort-laughed.
Sharks? Yes. Terror? Not Really
Forced dives for cartel bricks mean obligatory dorsal-fin suspense. CGI sharks look decent on a modest budget, but tension stalls whenever the script swerves into mid-ocean make-out sessions or logic-defying survivals.
Richard Dreyfuss drifts through, delivering ocean-respect monologues that feel stapled on to justify marquee billing. The final voice-over literally asks for shark-conservation donations after 90 minutes of shark-murder mayhem. The irony stings sharper than any bite. I’m sure it’s a good cause.
The Final Bite | Shark Trauma Therapy: You’re Doing It Wrong
Into the Deep is the definition of “brain-off aquatic escapism”: pirates, sharks, and earnest B-movie bravado stitched into a 90-minute fever dream. It’s passable Friday-night filler, just don’t expect depth (pun intended) or, honestly, much sense.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Indonesia looks chef’s-kiss gorgeous
- Surprisingly solid CGI sharks
- Scout Taylor-Compton commits hard
- Dreyfuss nostalgia factor (if you squint)
Cons
- Pirates so stock they squeak when you unwrap them
- Clunky, first-draft-fan-fic dialogue
- Shark thrills play second fiddle to soap-opera hijinks
- Survival logic tossed overboard
Rating for Into the Deep
2 bullet-ridden captains still cool-enough-to-pilot-in-a-beach-towel out of 5
| What to Watch Next | Mother of Movies |
|---|---|
| Distributor | Saban Films |
| Release | Limited Theatrical + VOD/Digital – 24 Jan 2025 |
| Director | Christian Sesma |
| Writers | Chad Law, Josh Ridgway |
| Producers | Simon Williams, Daemon Hillin |
| Cast | Scout Taylor-Compton (Cassidy) · Callum McGowan (Gregg) Jon Seda (Daemon) · Stuart Townsend (Jordan) · Richard Dreyfuss (Grandad) |
| Runtime / Rating | 89 min · R (bloody violence, language) |
Into the Deep (2025)
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Watch the Highlights Of Into the Deep, Spoiler Free On Mother of Movies
Take the Quiz and Get a Figurine that Matches Your Personality!
#1. What’s your first reaction when you see a giant fin heading your way?
#2. Pick your survival weapon
#3. Your ideal 80s movie soundtrack while escaping?
#4. What’s your survival motto?
#5. Choose your 80s survivor outfit.
#6. You’re offered a boat ride to safety. What’s your move?
#7. The shark disappears from sight. You:
#8. Your 80s movie role is:
#9. You need a sidekick. Who do you pick?
#10. Final showdown with the shark! What’s your move?
Results
You didn’t ask for this. You didn’t want this. But somehow, armed with a harpoon, a grimace, and a slightly damp cigarette, you survived. Congrats, lone wolf, the shark respects you (probably).
Chief Brody (Jaws): The sheriff who never asked for a fight, but becomes the reluctant hero when no one else steps up.
Nancy Adams (The Shallows): Trapped, injured, and grieving — but still fights a great white with nothing but grit and sheer willpower.
Jonas Taylor (The Meg): Haunted by past failures, but when prehistoric terror resurfaces, he’s the only one tough (and stubborn) enough to face it head-on.
You fought the sea and you fought the shark, and honestly, you fought pretty much everything. Despite the odds and common sense, you lived to angrily tell the tale.
Quint (Jaws): A shark hunter with a bone to pick and absolutely zero chill. His vendetta is legendary — and deadly.
Adil (Under Paris): A headstrong commander who ignores bureaucratic red tape to protect his city from an underwater nightmare.
Carter Blake (Deep Blue Sea): Cool under pressure until he’s not; fast fists, faster boats, and even faster temper when things go sideways.
You didn’t need to be faster than the shark. You just needed to be faster than the people you left behind. Bravo. Morals questionable. Survival? Flawless
Jack Morris (The Meg): Rich, smarmy, and ready to spin a prehistoric disaster into a PR opportunity — until karma bites back. Literally.
Derrick Jones (Piranha 3D): Exploits chaos to party harder, film raunchier, and profit faster… until the lake turns bloody. Not the sharpest strategy.
Oscar (Shark Tale): Claims shark-killer fame to climb the social ladder — the ultimate opportunist, even in animated form.
You tried explaining facts to the shark. It didn’t care. Luckily, your sheer panicked flailing confused it long enough for you to be the only one with a device that makes bubbles, so you can make a hasty exit. Science wins again (sort of).
Matt Hooper (Jaws): Scientific expertise can only take you so far when facing 25 feet of prehistoric fury. Luckily, sarcasm helps.
Dr. Susan McAlester (Deep Blue Sea): Smart enough to genetically enhance sharks, arrogant enough to think she could control them. Spoiler: she couldn’t.
Kate (47 Meters Down: Uncaged): Knows how to handle herself underwater — until the situation goes from “science trip” to “try not to get eaten” very fast.
You didn’t plan it. You didn’t strategize it. You just… survived. Like some sort of Australian-shirted miracle, you stumbled through chaos and came out a legend. Teach us your ways.
Captain Nolan (Orca): Driven by revenge and grief, he squares off against nature’s deadliest without blinking. Complicated, lethal, unforgettable.
LL Cool J’s Preacher (Deep Blue Sea): Outwits super sharks with kitchen knives, God, and pure stubborn willpower. Also delivers the best one-liners mid-chaos.
Jonas Taylor (The Meg): Jumps back into shark-infested waters without hesitation, usually with an improvised weapon and a bad attitude. The man punches Megalodons for breakfast.
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