Horror

Exciting, gripping and scary French horror about a new species of fast-growing sharks invading the water system of Paris. Starring Bérénice Bejo and Nassi Lyes, directed by Xavier Gens.

Synopsis

A brilliant scientist (Bérénice Bejo) must steel herself to face her greatest nightmare – a huge shark that killed her crew and husband during an expedition years before and which has now turned up in the Seine in Paris, France.

She’s aided by a local water cop (Nassi Lyes) and his crew, but faces opposition from the mayor (Anne Marivin) who is hell-bent on staging a major triathlon event that will help promote sport and leisure in the French capital.

Review, by @Reelreviewer

***SPOILER ALERT***

Sharks have had a bad rap ever since Jaws (1975), a series that descended into ludicrousness matched only by how ridiculous shark-themed horror movies these days have become.

We’ve had genetically engineered, super-intelligent sharks (Deep Blue Sea, 1999), shark-infested tornados (the gloriously batty Sharknado franchise), and most recently, prehistoric megalodons in the Meg series. Why not have a few of them swimming around the bowels of the French capital?

This incredulous conceit requires a heavy amount of suspension of disbelief. Under Paris gets bogged in a log of ‘movie science’ as it doubles, triples and quadruples down on itself, but it recovers mightily when the hunt for ‘Lilith (the shark. Memories of Bebe Neuwirth in TV comedies Cheers and Frasier) and the action take centre stage – and what great action there is.

What is it with elected officials in movies emphatically ignoring expert advice? Following Mayor Larry Vaughan (Murray Hamilton in Jaws) and umpteen others, La maire de Paris – styled like US Vice President Kamala Harris but sounding as toxic and unhinged as Joe Biden or Donald Trump – believes what she’s told that there’s a bad fishy on the loose beneath her feet, but proceeds with her Triathlon anyway.

During a TV interview to quell concerns about water safety ahead of her beloved event, she says: “…as you know, sharks are perfectly harmless to humans…all species are welcome…”

Director Gens and his team have used the murky waters of the Seine to style gripping, terrifying sequences that will have you squirming in your seat.

All this and, in a sequence that may resonate for some, a group of ‘rent a protest’ eco activists are gobbled up quick sharp by Lilith and her baby – hurrah!

The hardworking, young cast include a lovely-looking couple in Bejo and Lyes, but those playing the nasty Paris bureaucrats take the plaudits.

Under Paris being a European film, the writers and filmmakers haven’t gone for your usual Hollywood happy ending – the conclusion is mad. Almost all of the main characters (and a fair swathe of Parisians) are drowned or eaten, the capital – gardens, Metro, Eiffel Tower and all – is underwater and the sharks have spread to cities across the globe to wreak similar havoc.

See the official trailer on Netflix here.

Cast & credits

Director: Xavier Gens. 1hr 41mins (101mins). Let Me Be/Netflix. (15).

Producers: Vincent Roget, Bastien Sirodot.
Writers: Yaël Langmann, Olivier Torres.
Camera: Nicolas Massart.
Music: Alex Cortés, Anthony d’Amario, Edouard Rigaudière.
Sets: Hubert Pouille.

Bérénice Bejo, Nassi Lyes, Léa Léviant, Sandra Parfait, Aksel Ustun, Aurélia Petit, Marvin Dubart, Daouda Keita Daouda, Ibrahima Ba, Anne Marivin Anne Marivin.