2002·Thriller·1h 45m
7.0
★
In the dark silence of the sea during World War II, the submarine USS Tiger Shark prowls on what should be a routine rescue mission. But for the shell-shocked crew, trapped together in the sub's narrow corridors and constricted spaces, this is about to become a journey into the sensory delusions, mental deceptions and runaway fears that lurk just below the surface of the ocean.
Directed by David Twohy
diving
submarine
nurse
shipwreck
world war ii
soldier
corpse
explosion
rescue team
ghost
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Bruce Greenwood
Brice
Matthew Davis
Odell
Holt McCallany
Loomis
Olivia Williams
Claire
Jason Flemyng
Stumbo
Zach Galifianakis
Weird Wally
Scott Foley
Coors
Andrew Howard
Hoag
Nick Chinlund
Chief
Dexter Fletcher
Kingsley
Christopher Fairbank
Pappy
Matthew Leitch
Zap
Crew
David Twohy
Director
David Twohy
Screenplay
Darren Aronofsky
Screenplay
Graeme Revell
Original Music Composer
Bob Weinstein
Executive Producer
Darren Aronofsky
Producer
Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producer
Andrew Rona
Executive Producer
Scott Martin Gershin
Sound Designer
Tom Ozanich
Sound Editor
Harry Cohen
Sound Editor
Mary Vernieu
Casting
Popular Reviews
29 reviews
Kayra
6.0★ · 03/08/26
Really fun movie and I love the premise of a haunted submarine. I found it a bit convoluted at time though as it felt difficult to follow some characters or what was happening. Also , some scares could’ve been set up or executed better, but there is a lot to love here like the main performances and some funky camera work.
Really fun movie and I love the premise of a haunted submarine. I found it a bit convoluted at time though as it felt difficult to follow some characters or what was happening. Also , some scares could’ve been set up or executed better, but there is a lot to love here like the main performances and some funky camera work.
Becwithak
10.0★ · 01/06/26
Good fun spooky underwater movie
Good fun spooky underwater movie
Kieran
7.0★ · 10/07/25
LIGHTING, FOLKS. PROPER LIGHTING. SURELY IT DOESN’T EXIST? HOW CAN THIS MID-BUDGET HORROR FROM THE EARLY 2000s HAVE BETTER LIGHTING THAN MOST MODERN FILMS? I’VE FOUND A UNICORN AND IT HAS A PENDANT NECKLACE WITH THIS FILM’S POSTER INSIDE.
Hyperbole, obviously, but this genuinely does have impeccable lighting. You see the parts you’re meant to see, you’re blind in the parts you’re not. This isn’t even in a “where’s the light coming from? same place as the music” way, it just utilises its sources deeply impressively. It elevates this whole thing.
Elsewhere, this is rock solid. There’s a canny long shot near the start that clues us into the ship’s geography, immediately setting you on a safe course. Little touches like that are always appreciated. It uses its claustrophobic setting in consistently interesting ways, there’s a moment near the end where we’re plunged into darkness and the set we’ve become accustomed to feels alien. The action is consistently rousing, the acting is above par, the plot (while not exactly novel (written by Darren Aronofsky no less)) is given space to breathe and the slightly twee period touches do little to dampen the overall effect.
It’s no masterpiece (and I probably enjoyed it way more than most would) but a highly enjoyable way to spend 105 minutes. Simple stuff done well. Event Horizon in a submarine. Good times.
Hyperbole, obviously, but this genuinely does have impeccable lighting. You see the parts you’re meant to see, you’re blind in the parts you’re not. This isn’t even in a “where’s the light coming from? same place as the music” way, it just utilises its sources deeply impressively. It elevates this whole thing.
Elsewhere, this is rock solid. There’s a canny long shot near the start that clues us into the ship’s geography, immediately setting you on a safe course. Little touches like that are always appreciated. It uses its claustrophobic setting in consistently interesting ways, there’s a moment near the end where we’re plunged into darkness and the set we’ve become accustomed to feels alien. The action is consistently rousing, the acting is above par, the plot (while not exactly novel (written by Darren Aronofsky no less)) is given space to breathe and the slightly twee period touches do little to dampen the overall effect.
It’s no masterpiece (and I probably enjoyed it way more than most would) but a highly enjoyable way to spend 105 minutes. Simple stuff done well. Event Horizon in a submarine. Good times.
LIGHTING, FOLKS. PROPER LIGHTING. SURELY IT DOESN’T EXIST? HOW CAN THIS MID-BUDGET HORROR FROM THE EARLY 2000s HAVE BETTER LIGHTING THAN MOST MODERN FILMS? I’VE FOUND A UNICORN AND IT HAS A PENDANT NECKLACE WITH THIS FILM’S POSTER INSIDE.
Hyperbole, obviously, but this genuinely does have impeccable lighting. You see the parts you’re meant to see, you’re blind in the parts you’re not. This isn’t even in a “where’s the light coming from? same place as the music” way, it just utilises its sources deeply impressively. It elevates this whole thing.
Elsewhere, this is rock solid. There’s a canny long shot near the start that clues us into the ship’s geography, immediately setting you on a safe course. Little touches like that are always appreciated. It uses its claustrophobic setting in consistently interesting ways, there’s a moment near the end where we’re plunged into darkness and the set we’ve become accustomed to feels alien. The action is consistently rousing, the acting is above par, the plot (while not exactly novel (written by Darren Aronofsky no less)) is given space to breathe and the slightly twee period touches do little to dampen the overall effect.
It’s no masterpiece (and I probably enjoyed it way more than most would) but a highly enjoyable way to spend 105 minutes. Simple stuff done well. Event Horizon in a submarine. Good times.
Hyperbole, obviously, but this genuinely does have impeccable lighting. You see the parts you’re meant to see, you’re blind in the parts you’re not. This isn’t even in a “where’s the light coming from? same place as the music” way, it just utilises its sources deeply impressively. It elevates this whole thing.
Elsewhere, this is rock solid. There’s a canny long shot near the start that clues us into the ship’s geography, immediately setting you on a safe course. Little touches like that are always appreciated. It uses its claustrophobic setting in consistently interesting ways, there’s a moment near the end where we’re plunged into darkness and the set we’ve become accustomed to feels alien. The action is consistently rousing, the acting is above par, the plot (while not exactly novel (written by Darren Aronofsky no less)) is given space to breathe and the slightly twee period touches do little to dampen the overall effect.
It’s no masterpiece (and I probably enjoyed it way more than most would) but a highly enjoyable way to spend 105 minutes. Simple stuff done well. Event Horizon in a submarine. Good times.
matilda
2.7★ · 11/13/23
being stuck on a submarine with a bunch of american men is a nightmare i’ve had
being stuck on a submarine with a bunch of american men is a nightmare i’ve had
va24mar
6.0★ · 10/20/21
2002 | Holt McCallany
Hooptober Ocho: 26/37
2 films from your birth year: 2/2
Since I'm a fan of underwater horror, I had "Below" on my radar for a little longer, but I didn't know anything about that and was a bit careful with my expectations because early 2000s horror is mostly hit or miss. I'm happy to say that I liked the film.
The cast is really fantastic with actors like Matthew Davis, Bruce Greenwood, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, Zach Galifianakis and the great Holt McCallany and they manage to carry the film. Motivations and tensions between the submarine crew and the rescued but also within the crew come across well and I think the portrayal of life around the submarine is quite well done.
The film is very atmospheric and interesting from the start, has a few nice twists and turns in its runtime and is well paced. It's light on horror, which means it's more of a mystery thriller than straight up horror, but brings the classic early 2000s ghost story elements that work well and are kept very vague. The individual moments that focus on the scares and the horror are well done and scenes like the one with the mirror are even highlights.
"Below" is great early 2000s horror that lives from its setting and the resulting claustrophobia and also scores with atmosphere and actually a nice plot. I can only recommend the film, of course it is not a masterpiece and does absolutely nothing that you have never seen before, but it is very strong and convincing in what it does. I also believe that the film does not lose any of its impact in several rewatches and is more likely to be better than worse.
Hooptober Ocho: 26/37
2 films from your birth year: 2/2
Since I'm a fan of underwater horror, I had "Below" on my radar for a little longer, but I didn't know anything about that and was a bit careful with my expectations because early 2000s horror is mostly hit or miss. I'm happy to say that I liked the film.
The cast is really fantastic with actors like Matthew Davis, Bruce Greenwood, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, Zach Galifianakis and the great Holt McCallany and they manage to carry the film. Motivations and tensions between the submarine crew and the rescued but also within the crew come across well and I think the portrayal of life around the submarine is quite well done.
The film is very atmospheric and interesting from the start, has a few nice twists and turns in its runtime and is well paced. It's light on horror, which means it's more of a mystery thriller than straight up horror, but brings the classic early 2000s ghost story elements that work well and are kept very vague. The individual moments that focus on the scares and the horror are well done and scenes like the one with the mirror are even highlights.
"Below" is great early 2000s horror that lives from its setting and the resulting claustrophobia and also scores with atmosphere and actually a nice plot. I can only recommend the film, of course it is not a masterpiece and does absolutely nothing that you have never seen before, but it is very strong and convincing in what it does. I also believe that the film does not lose any of its impact in several rewatches and is more likely to be better than worse.
2002 | Holt McCallany
Hooptober Ocho: 26/37
2 films from your birth year: 2/2
Since I'm a fan of underwater horror, I had "Below" on my radar for a little longer, but I didn't know anything about that and was a bit careful with my expectations because early 2000s horror is mostly hit or miss. I'm happy to say that I liked the film.
The cast is really fantastic with actors like Matthew Davis, Bruce Greenwood, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, Zach Galifianakis and the great Holt McCallany and they manage to carry the film. Motivations and tensions between the submarine crew and the rescued but also within the crew come across well and I think the portrayal of life around the submarine is quite well done.
The film is very atmospheric and interesting from the start, has a few nice twists and turns in its runtime and is well paced. It's light on horror, which means it's more of a mystery thriller than straight up horror, but brings the classic early 2000s ghost story elements that work well and are kept very vague. The individual moments that focus on the scares and the horror are well done and scenes like the one with the mirror are even highlights.
"Below" is great early 2000s horror that lives from its setting and the resulting claustrophobia and also scores with atmosphere and actually a nice plot. I can only recommend the film, of course it is not a masterpiece and does absolutely nothing that you have never seen before, but it is very strong and convincing in what it does. I also believe that the film does not lose any of its impact in several rewatches and is more likely to be better than worse.
Hooptober Ocho: 26/37
2 films from your birth year: 2/2
Since I'm a fan of underwater horror, I had "Below" on my radar for a little longer, but I didn't know anything about that and was a bit careful with my expectations because early 2000s horror is mostly hit or miss. I'm happy to say that I liked the film.
The cast is really fantastic with actors like Matthew Davis, Bruce Greenwood, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, Zach Galifianakis and the great Holt McCallany and they manage to carry the film. Motivations and tensions between the submarine crew and the rescued but also within the crew come across well and I think the portrayal of life around the submarine is quite well done.
The film is very atmospheric and interesting from the start, has a few nice twists and turns in its runtime and is well paced. It's light on horror, which means it's more of a mystery thriller than straight up horror, but brings the classic early 2000s ghost story elements that work well and are kept very vague. The individual moments that focus on the scares and the horror are well done and scenes like the one with the mirror are even highlights.
"Below" is great early 2000s horror that lives from its setting and the resulting claustrophobia and also scores with atmosphere and actually a nice plot. I can only recommend the film, of course it is not a masterpiece and does absolutely nothing that you have never seen before, but it is very strong and convincing in what it does. I also believe that the film does not lose any of its impact in several rewatches and is more likely to be better than worse.