Flicks, Aaron Yap
Had 47 Metres Down materialised around the same time as The Shallows last year, it would have been written off as a lesser clone. Compared to Jaume Collet-Serra’s surprisingly well-received shark shocker, Johannes Roberts’ film exudes a distinctly direct-to-video feel, from its generic title to the uninspired casting of Mandy Moore and Matthew Modine, neither particularly enticing draw cards. However, with some distance, this thriller can occupy a space as the kind of tidy, efficient B-movie genre fans welcome every now and then — a satisfying palate-cleanser to alleviate the fatigue of blockbuster franchises. And while it isn’t necessarily a better movie, 47 Metres Down shouldn’t be sniffed at, its plum supply of nerve-wracking scenarios capably playing to our phobias of deep sea depths and hungry sharks.
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