Under Paris Review: Saving the City from Scary Sea Beasts

Imagine your morning commute taking you not past busy freeway traffic or crowded subway cars but through the calm waters of a river running through the heart of your city. For many Parisians, their journey to work involves leisurely exercising up and down the Seine. Little do they suspect the terror that lurks below the surface. When an enormous shark appears in the waterway, all bets are off.

Under Paris introduces us to Sophia, a marine biologist consumed by tragedy from her past encounters with the oceans’ apex predators. Three years ago, she witnessed her team fall victim to a massive mako shark during a research expedition. Now, that same aggressive beast has turned up again, but in a place no shark has ever been seen before, swimming the channels of Paris itself.

At first, no one believed Sophia’s outlandish claim of a shark in the Seine. But soon enough, the evidence becomes too clear to deny. With an important triathlon event just days away, Sophia races to stop the creature before it can inflict mass casualties on the spectators and athletes who will fill the river. Joining forces with local police and a group of shark advocates, she sets out to track, study, and relocate the mysterious shark back to its natural habitat.

Director Xavier Gens crafts propulsive suspense and tension from this unthinkable scenario. Working with Oscar nominee Bérénice Bejo, he imbues even the most outlandish sequences with gritty authenticity. Under Paris may bend believability, but it more than makes up for it with pulse-pounding action, stunning Parisian vistas, and an atmosphere of unpredictable menace just beneath the surface. Buckle your flotation device—the terror has only begun.

Faces of Fear in the Watery Depths

One of the true strengths of Under Paris lies in its characters. At the center is Sophia, played brilliantly by Berenice Bejo. As a marine biologist, she’s devoted her life to studying the ocean’s predators. But a haunting past has left deep scars, both physical and mental. Three years ago, Sophia witnessed her entire team gruesomely killed by a mammoth shark.

We see the pain in Bejo’s eyes as Sophia is still tormented by flashbacks and lingering injuries. Her expertise makes her the clearest choice to stop the new threat, yet fear and trauma threaten to hold her back. Through Bejo’s nuanced performance, we understand Sophia as a complex, fully realized person struggling to face her demons.

Adding layers are the bold activists also striving to understand the river’s unwelcome visitor. Mika, played vibrantly by Lea Levian, leads a group called S.O.S. Sharks with passionate zeal. Yet for all her book knowledge, real encounters with the ocean’s titans teach harsh lessons about even the most well-intentioned assumptions.

Adil, the river patrol officer partnering with Sophia, provides a more pragmatic viewpoint. Played with grounded strength by Nassim Lyes, Adil sees the need to balance environmental concerns with public safety. These characters give a vibrant voice to different perspectives while creating moral dilemmas that propel the plot.

Environmental themes of humanity’s impact on marine worlds are woven throughout, bringing a sense of urgency. Through tragedies both past and present, the film highlights how pollution and changing ecosystems can warp natural orders—sometimes with deadly results. But it does so through emotionally compelling characters like Sophia, Mika, and Adil, not via preaching.

Their earnest yet conflicted roles make the complex issues feel all the more realistic. Even the enigmatic shark itself plays a quasi-character, a ruthless yet tragic creature merely responding to a disrupted world of our own making. In the end, the aspects that lingered most weren’t spectacular scenes but rather the memorable people that gave this fantastical story its heart.

Immersive Visuals Bring Under Paris to Life

One aspect of the film that really stood out was the imaginative use of setting to immerse viewers in the action. From the first chilling scenes investigating pollution in the ocean, it’s clear the director aimed to transport audiences straight into the heart of the story. The crisp underwater photography manages to be both frightening and mesmerizing at the same time. We follow alongside Sophia into murky depths filled with ominous presences lurking just out of view.

Another gripping location utilized was the infamous Catacombs of Paris. Viewers get drawn into the gripping tension as characters navigate the cramped labyrinth below the city. Stirring sequences were filmed amidst the narrow stone corridors, with shadows and echoes adding an extra layer of unease. It makes the viewer feel as trapped and claustrophobic as the characters, heightening the mounting terror. Beyond the practical challenges, it’s clear that significant thought went into crafting these distinctly moody environments.

Of course, classic Parisian landmarks also feature, from solemn scenes along the Seine to glimpses of the iconic Eiffel Tower glittering in dusk skies. These serve partly as picturesque glimpses of a backdrop viewers already associate with romance and beauty. But they also accentuate the contrast with the monstrous danger polluting familiar city streets. The contrast underscores how even the most idyllic of places can become unexpectedly sinister hunting grounds.

Complementing these settings are the vibrant colors and stylish cinematography. Intense reds flare during harrowing sequences, while murky greens convey the murkiness within polluted waters. Fluid camera movements sweep viewers through otherworldly underwater vistas. Splashes of neon intensify the frantic action sequences unfolding across the cityscape. These lush visuals keep viewers raptly engaged in each perilous scene.

Tying it all together are the environmental messages subtly woven into the stunning imagery. From aerial shots of swirling ocean garbage to ghostly outlines of marine life trapped in flotsam, the bleak realities of pollution are on constant display. The film suggests how humanity’s disregard for nature can have chilling, unintended consequences, altering ecosystems in catastrophic ways. In Under Paris, the director develops an entire haunting story from that simple premise, guided throughout by breathtaking visual storytelling.

Environmental Wake-Up Call Amid Shark-Infested Waters

Under Paris tackles some heavy themes but balances them well with suspenseful adventure. It brings up grave issues like climate change and pollution’s impacts yet wraps them in an entertaining package. The movie weaves these ideas naturally into its fantastical premise of a shark invading Paris.

Director Xavier Gens shows he cares about more than just thrills; he wants to raise real environmental concerns. We see massive ocean garbage patches suffocating marine life and driving animals to desperation. This poignantly sets up the story’s events while increasing the stakes. When personal loss also enters through Sophia’s backstory, glimpses of emotion give scale to these mounting threats.

Government issues prove another reoccurring theme. Politicians ignore scientific warnings to disastrous effect, prioritizing profit over people. This critique adds timely commentary but never gets too preachy. It’s presented almost lightheartedly through the bumbling mayor. Like in many summer blockbusters, authorities create more problems than they solve.

Yet for all its heavier elements, Under Paris never takes itself too seriously. It embraces the campy fun of shark movies while bringing sophisticated production values. Scenes alternate deftly between gripping action and soulful character moments. Even gory deaths are handled fluidly rather than gratuitously. This tonal balance keeps the movie entertaining and worry-free.

Viewers come away remembering not just a thrill ride but also issues worth deeper thought. Gens suggests changes are needed in how society addresses environmental stewardship and political accountability. But he balances such messages with a good old-fashioned creature feature experience. Under Paris smartly uses thrill-seeking as a way to also open minds. Its mix of joy and conscience is part of what makes this eco-horror stand out from the crowd.

Tailored Terror: FX and Action in Under Paris

Effects work is always tricky in shark movies, but Under Paris finds creative ways to keep viewers on edge. We get a blend of CGI and practical elements for the film’s star antagonist, Lilith. When the camera simply observes her gliding motions, it’s easy to suspend disbelief in her menace. But fast-paced scenes rely more on digital creations, which can hinder realism. Still, director Gens makes the most of both techniques to craft memorable thrills.

Some of the tensest moments leave Lilith lurking just out of sight. We experience the terror through muffled sounds and the reactions of those in danger. Not seeing the full shark prolongs the anxiety. When the attacks unfold, it’s a mix of implied and graphic violence. Lilith’s kills feel unnervingly plausible rather than gratuitous. And the cinematography embraces the aquatic setting to its full visual potential.

One standout is the catacomb feeding frenzy. With swirling red flares lighting the enclosed space, it taps into claustrophobic dread on a grand scale. Panicked silhouettes flail amid chaotic splashing. Another key scene is the triathlon finale, where individual deaths give way to wide shots of sheer waterborne chaos. We grasp the nightmare unfolding across the entire city. It’s a finale befitting the movie’s epic scale and environmental stakes.

While not every FX shot is flawless, Gens ensures Lilith maintains a disturbing physicality. Her toothy maw and agile maneuvers, even in CGI, trigger primal worries. The film also suggests as much as it shows. Sometimes we only glimpse fleeting shadows or feel the rippling aftermath of an attack. Both imagination and execution make Under Paris’ encounters truly unnerving. It gives summer shark carnage a suitably sophisticated and unsettling edge.

Refreshing the Formula: How Under Paris Compares to Jaws

It’s no secret that Under Paris draws inspiration from the blockbuster that started it all, Jaws. Yet director Xavier Gens makes some clever tweaks that set his film apart. Both involve an unexpected threat disrupting popular summer activities. But where Jaws took place among New England beaches, Under Paris transplants the scars to the waterways of Paris itself.

Just as the police chief in Jaws ignored the shark warnings, Under Paris sees politicians stubbornly refusing to delay a triathlon. Both works build tension by mostly keeping their antagonists offscreen. We observe the threat mostly through the reactions of endangered characters, rather than nonstop graphic attacks. This strategy intensifies the anxiety.

Yet, for all its familiar beats, Under Paris brings a refreshing new context. The Seine setting opens up striking visuals and claustrophobic scenes that are impossible for Jaws. And unlike past imitators, it wisely limits direct shots of the shark CGI that could rip viewers from the suspense. Gens also fleshes out his characters more than Jaws, giving us real stakes in Sophia’s personal mission.

While it may not stand as an equal to Spielberg’s iconic classic, Under Paris makes the most of the formula. It entertains as a slick, high-budget modern thriller while avoiding the shortcomings of other pretenders to Jaws’ throne. For fans of classic monster movies or those seeking a new aquatic spin, Under Paris delivers big thrills in and out of the water.

Keeping the Thrill Alive: Why Under Paris Is Worth a Dive

It’s clear that Under Paris won’t be winning any awards for complex characters or a tightly scripted plot. However, for fans of creature features seeking good old-fashioned aquatic thrills, this movie delivers in spades. Director Xavier Gens makes the most of the bizarre premise, crafting memorably tense sequences that keep viewers on edge. From its unsettling opening to its grand finale, Under Paris keeps the action coming in exciting ways.

While the CGI may not always be perfect and the environmental message gets a bit heavyhanded, Gens creates genuine moments of horror within this fun premise. His creative use of the Seine River and Parisian settings takes the material to memorable places that mainstream shark films rarely explore. Even when veering into laughable territory, Under Paris maintains just enough suspense to satisfy adrenaline junkies.

Most importantly, it succeeds in doing what few modern aquatic thrillers achieve: entertain from start to finish with an engaging monster feature. Fans of the genre looking for some lighthearted scares would be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable thriller of its kind. Its flaws are outweighed by its visual flair and constant forward momentum.

Gens should be commended for bringing renewed energy and stylistic flair to revitalize a stale formula. In an age of remakes and reboots, Under Paris acts as a refreshing reminder of what artistic vision can achieve within classic genres. With any luck, it will inspire a new wave of filmmakers to plunge back into oceanic chills. Even if it never achieves mainstream success, Under Paris will keep genre diehards coming back for repeated dives into its slickly thrilling waters.

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