Review: Antonio Banderas Takes To The Seas In Shark Thriller ABOVE AND BELOW
Director Jesse V. Johnson delivers hugely entertaining B-movie thrills with his perfectly constructed Above And Below. The killer shark pic is great fun, offering up a great turn by Antonio Banderas. Banderas knows his assignment here and he pulls it off with aplomb.
A group of friends are holidaying in Mexico when a mysterious businessman (Banderas) offers them the opportunity to take an all expenses paid boat-trip and shark dive. It seems like the perfect day – until members of a drug cartel come aboard and spoil things. Soon there’s a bag of cocaine at the bottom of the ocean and someone is trapped in a cage in shark infested waters.
A few weeks ago we had the similarly themed Chum, a shark thriller that didn’t quite hit the mark in what it need to do in order to please its audience. I’m pleased to say that Jesse V. Johnson and writer Anthony Steven Giordano know exactly what they’re doing and they offer up good characters, tense sequences and just the right amount of humour.
Above And Below also scores in the casting department. The younger cast members (led by Laura Marano and Christina Ochoa) acquit themselves, balancing a youthful energy with amongst the terror. However, the old pros really hit the mark, Louis Mandylour chews scenery like one of the sharks and and Irish actor Timothy V. Murphy embraces his inner Robert Shaw as the boat captain – well, Jane Fonda did make the comparison in Grace And Frankie! As for Banderas… boy, does he enjoy himself delivering menace, wit and a boatload of charisma. He’s a true movie star and his turn helps make Above And Below such an entertaining experience.
Shark movies have become a very popular sub-genre. After-all, it seems simple enough – cage goes in the water, actor goes in the water, shark’s in the water. A lot of filmmakers think that’s all you need. However, good characterisation and well-honed tension are vital – and Johnson and company give us that. This is perfectly balanced in set-up and execution. Throw in an old-pro like Antonio Banderas and you have a great thriller which gives its audience exactly what it wants.
If you’re in the mood for pure entertainment and edge of seat thrills, then check out Above And Below. Sure it’s preposterous, but you’re absolutely assured a a damn good time. Climb aboard, set sail – but just don’t get into the water!
