Published Apr 29, 2026, 1:17 PM EDT

Renny Harlin is back in shark-filled waters, but Deep Water doesn't run particularly deep

Deep Water isn't a sequel or equal to the director's standout shark movie, Deep Blue Sea

Image: Magenta Light Studios

Director Renny Harlin has a new shark-attack movie out called Deep Water . It’s only fair that he would get another shot at this subgenre as it seemingly resurges in popularity ; Harlin made a particularly good one 27 years ago with Deep Blue Sea . But today’s shark movies tend to be more contained, like Netflix’s recent Thrash , the Blake Lively-starring The Shallows , or the serial-killer riff Dangerous Animals . Deep Water is a more ambitious production than any of those.

It’s also not as good as any of them — maybe because, like the genetically modified carnivores of Deep Blue Sea , Harlin is a creature of the ’90s.…