47 Meters Down: Uncaged (Review)

[This review was contributed by (AF).]

Following the (2017) 47 Meters Down theatrical release, the sequel, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged centers around four high school girls that take an adventure into the underwater Mayan City burial site in Mexico. Through some missteps and bad choices, they soon find themselves being hunted by great white sharks that have adapted to their cave-like surroundings. 

We are quickly introduced to Mia (Sophie Nelisse), a bullied teenager and her indifferent step sister Sasha (Corinne Foxx). In an effort to create a connection between the two, Mia’s father signs them up for a Shark Dive boat ride. However Sasha’s friends Alexa (Brianna Tju) and Nicole (Sistane Stallone), peer pressure them into a private excursion and this is where the story begins.

Alexa describes the caves as “scary but cool”, which is an understatement. In the cave you initially notice the statues and architecture, however, you’ll also notice darkness is at the forefront of the frightening environment. With subtle but scary moments or cliche death scenes, the overall terrifying atmosphere makes the audience invested. 

As a viewer, you will go through stages of fear, panic, sadness, and determination. Because we stay with the foursome the entire movie, you feel like you are a part of their party. We get to see a mixture of the girls working together, using their survival instincts, and looking out for each other for the most part. 

47 Meters Down: Uncaged invokes jump scares, uses musical cues to build suspense, and the acting brings everything to an emotional focus. But after leaving the theater, you will notice that certain plot points weren’t finished and the film may have lacked logical explanations.   

For instance, being underwater, in a light-less cave, with limited air, hunted by full-grown sharks should have been debilitating. It may even cause fear paralysis which might cause death by itself.

After watching this movie, I developed a scuba diving phobia. I also now have a healthy appetite for land excursions and swimming lessons. But, I was entertained, so I do recommend 47 Meters Down: Uncaged during a matinee screening.