After the abhorrent Strangers trilogy that will go down in infamy as one of the worst trilogies of all time, it is safe to say that Renny Harlin needs a win. Arguably it has been over two decades since his last iconic film, so what better way to return to form than revisiting the very formula that made Deep Blue Sea such a hit. With his latest effort, Deep Water, he does exactly that, delivering sharks, sharks, and even more sharks in an enjoyable comeback.

Deep Water follows first officer Ben (Aaron Eckhart) and veteran Northeastern Air captain Richard (Ben Kingsley) aboard a flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai. The passenger list is filled with a range of personalities, each given brief introductions, with standouts including the abrasive Dan (Angus Sampson) and two children, Cora (Molly Wright) and Finn (Elijah Tamati), all of whom leave a distinct impression.

What begins as a routine flight for the pilots quickly spirals into disaster. A fire breaks out in the cargo hold, caused by the infamous Dan’s faulty electronics stashed in his bag, triggering a catastrophic chain of events that forces the plane to crash into the middle of the ocean. Understandably, panic is rife among the survivors as they desperately await rescue, but it soon becomes clear that their ordeal is far from over. The surrounding waters are infested with devastatingly hungry sharks that see them as a Michelin star five course meal delivered straight to their door.

Deep Water is not afraid to embrace the formula that makes this kind of disaster film work. The first half carries a Final Destination feel, as each character is introduced, inviting the audience to play the guessing game of who is going to make it out alive. While these character driven moments are brief, Harlin, working from a script by Pete Bridges, Shayne Armstrong, S.P. Krause, and Damien Potter, uses the time effectively, giving just enough depth for viewers to either root for or against certain passengers. At times it does feel overcrowded, with too many characters to keep track of, but once the action ramps up and they are picked off one by one, it becomes far more digestible.

Enjoyable throughout, the film does not shy away from the horror, graphically depicting deaths both in the crash and at the mercy of the predators below. Surprisingly, the visual effects are largely solid, particularly within the wreckage itself. There are a few moments where they become distracting, but as the trailer suggested, that is hardly unexpected.

Harlin also maintains a steady sense of tension across the runtime. There are several moments where the audience will find themselves, much like the passengers, bracing for impact, only for events to unfold in unexpected ways, which proves to be a welcome surprise. The final act does lean a little too heavily into cheesiness, with some predictability beginning to creep in, but to Harlin’s credit there are still a few curveballs that catch you off guard.

While most characters don’t leave a lasting impression, disappearing from memory almost as quickly as they do on screen, those who stand out owe much to strong performances. Aaron Eckhart is consistently solid throughout, with Angus Sampson stealing every scene he is in and becoming the one character audiences will be baying for blood for. The highest praise, though, goes to Molly Wright and Elijah Tamati, who deliver emotional performances well beyond their years, adding to the overall enjoyment.

While I went into Deep Water expecting another subpar attempt to recapture the magic of Jaws, I came away pleasantly surprised. Not only is it an enjoyable watch, but its fast paced, thrilling nature makes it one of the better shark films in recent years, and one I would thoroughly recommend audiences seek out at the cinema.