In Under Paris (aka Sous la Seine), a team of scientists are tracking aquatic life in the sea, when they come under attack from a large mako shark. Only two teammates survive the incident, including Sophia Assalas – a scientist dedicated to preserving the ocean and its inhabitants.
Three years later, Sophia is living in Paris and is working tirelessly to inform and educate people about sea life when she is approached by the head of a conservation group. The group have been tracking the same mako shark that attacked Sophia, and believe it has made its way into the river Seine.
At first Sophia dismisses the idea, believing it highly unlikely a shark would be in the Seine, but she soon changes her mind, and enlists the assistance of the river police to track it down. However, it quickly becomes a race against time to find the animal, because in one week’s time Paris is set to hold an Olympic triathlon which will attract millions of visitors to the city… or potential victims, if you prefer.
Directed and co-written by Xavier Gens, Under Paris stars Bérénice Bejo and Nassim Lyes. The movie is a French drama-thriller, which is new to stream on Netflix from today, and if you enjoy a shark movie (and I know a lot of people do), you may find this one somewhat agreeable.
However, before I go any further I need to be clear: Under Paris is not Jaws, nor is it Deep Blue Sea, and it is a mixed bag. There are action sequences in the movie, but it’s not wall-to-wall thrills and spills, and the scenes of spectacle are few and far between.
The film also suffers from a bit of an identity crisis, and it’s not always clear what it is attempting to be. Is this a shark attack movie, is it a conservation thriller, or is it a mild sci-fi horror?
I honestly don’t know and I don’t think the film does either. It throws a bit of all three into the mix in the hopes something will stick, when really it would have picked one lane.
Yet all that said, Under Paris isn’t bad and parts of it are quite likeable. It suffers from pacing issues, and a distinct lack of shark, but it is an improvement on the majority of dross which passes for a shark film these days, so it does win some praise.
If you’re in any way wondering, no this isn’t one of those low-rent CGI-shit fests, which look awful and feature dreadful acting. Under Paris is instead a beautifully shot film, with a cast who know how to deliver lines without looking constipated.
The shark movie sub-genre is filled with cheap tosh and z-list actors and thankfully this isn’t one of those films. It tries a bit harder, and even if it doesn’t succeed in everything it sets out to do, it at least gives it a go.
Where it works best is in the concept of putting a shark into the Seine. This is a smart move, as it brings the shark to its victims and at the same time allows for some great visuals.
Where it stumbles is by not capitalising on its set-up. Under Paris could have made full use of its city location to create a full-on gore fest, and that’s simply not what we get here.
What’s on offer is something which teases a lot and only occasionally delivers. However, when it does dive into the action or horror realm, it’s not bad.
If you like shark movies, give Under Paris a go. It won’t blow you out of the water, but you may find enough of it enjoyable to maintain your interest.
I believe there’s a better film out there than the one we ultimately get, but Under Paris has its moments. However, as a side note to the director: Next time you make a shark movie, can we have a bit more shark please?
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