Deep Rising (1998)

Bad in a bad way

The studios make lots of trash that gets buried in unmarked graves, showing up on local channels with lots of commercial interruptions (but showing the same couple of commercials over and over), leading us to wonder, "was this movie ever in theatres?" This movie is just bad. It is very suspicious that this unremarkable bad movie should attract so many reviews, and that they are overwhelmingly positive. There are a few inexpensive special effects created with care (the ocean liner model that gets blown up, the computer graphic tentacle monster). The monster is an extremely slithery version of the alien in Alien, you know, it opens an orifice in what is supposed to be its head and then there's another head (or whatever). Every time the creature bursts into a room, it looks the same. The riding around on the jet ski in the boat at the end is some terrible low budget movie making. Not a classic bad movie, but bad enough to regret wasting time watching it. June 29, 2008

CONTRIVED TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT STILL A FUN HEART POUNDING EXPERIENCE!

It's hard to put this movie down, as it tries so hard to pay homage to the sci-fi and horror movies from the past. This film borrorws from several other movies like 'Alien' and 'Poseidon Adventure', but it is one heck of a ride. The action is tense, Rob Botton's(The Thing remake)FX are very good and just the right amount of tongue and cheek humor thrown in to make this a very good monster movie, that's right up there with the original 'Tremors'.....not quite. The DVD transfer looks good, but this film deserves an upgrade with some interesting extra material. April 20, 2008

As good as anything in the genre

I tend to write reviews of films I really like or films that engage my mind. Deep Rising is alot of the first and a teeny bit of the second.

I agree with any one who says that this is a fun picture. I think the sets, particularly on board the ship, are gorgeous. The PT boat they arrive in feels authentic. I'm not one to care too much about special effects, so all I can say is that these do fine--the monster is monstrous.

In general there is something of the spirit of "Tremors" in this movie. It's a buddy flick with convincing monsters, witty dialogue, and good pacing between the scary bits.

I venture to say that if you liked "Tremors" you will like "Deep Rising." April 17, 2008

Humans vs. Man-Eating Monster: Cheesy But Still Fun

"Deep Rising" is a kind of action/horror film that you watch on midnight TV. You may not be particularly impressed with the impossible story, but you keep watching because anyway it keeps entertaining in its own way. It is not the greatest horror film in the movie history, but is not the worst either. Director is Stephen Sommers, the guy responsible for much better "The Mummy."

Treat Williams is an adventurer hired by the group of the pirates led by Wes Studi. Their target is a luxury ocean liner which is just attacked by a man-eating creature(s?) with huge tentacles. It is a typical B-movie premise (though the effects are superb), but it is fun nonetheless. Listen to Treat William's character repeatedly say with a self-mocking tone "Now what?" and we all know that we are not supposed to take the film seriously.

"Deep Rising" understands the rules of monster flicks: they need beautiful ladies and some occasional comic touch if possible. Famke Janssen is the beauty and Kevin J. O'Connor provides laughs. The film also includes the supports like Djimon Hounsou, Jason Flemyng and Cliff Curtis, but don't expect character development or something like that. You just don't have one - the good is always good while the bad is always bad - and all that is intentional.

I have seen the film in theater about 10 years ago. Then I was not impressed very much (though not disappointed either). Since then I have seen it several times and I started to like it more. It is cheesy fun certainly, but it is still fun. January 17, 2008

SOMMERS BEST!!

If you want to explain the hellish abomination that was Van Helsing, you need look no further than Deep Rising, the original Sommers blend of horror and flip humour that was the template for The Mummy movies and what was to follow. Deep Rising is where Sommers got his schlocky blend of humour and horror just right-it's fast, funny and completely over the top. Treat Williams is great as the wisecracking hero who confronts a big beasty from the deep on a ocean liner. This probably needed the likes of Harrison Ford to sell it at the time, but Williams has such a twinkle in his eye that it doesn't matter, both he and this gulity pleasure are great fun to watch. June 22, 2007

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