10 best thrillers that take place on the ocean

throughout the years, The intimidating vastness of the ocean has captivated filmmakers and audiences alike. Its mystery and the creatures it holds (both fictional and real) help it serve as one of the most terrifying and suspenseful settings for some of the best thriller movies ever released.

The ever-present bodies of water help audiences explore from the best action movies to the worst claustrophobic nightmares. Shark attacks, pirating or even psychologically-filled encounters All happen in the best thrillers that take place on the ocean.

10

Dead Calm (1989)

Sinking into tension

After the tragic passing of their son, John and Rae Ingram decide to spend some time alone at sea. It is important to note the morphing role the ocean plays. It changes from being a therapeutic experience to becoming a threat when the characters become stranded. The vulnerability the ocean pulls out of them is truly amusing to seeAnd strange things happen when they save a stranger on a sinking ship, making it even better.

The isolated ship film works perfectly because it is a three-person cast film. Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill and Billy Zane’s acting is remarkable in Dead calm. The two boats depicted make the film, as well as its very original setting. Saw the ocean’s roar sinking the schooner Almost completely in the end has to go down as one of the best scenes in the genre.

9

Sea Fever (2019)

Parasites in the sea

Despite its small budget, Sea fever Tells the events of fishermen in the sea. The problem? They have a parasite growing in their last bit of drinking water supply. It’s way beyond just another basic, terrible film.

The setting for this film is completely calculated. Water itself ends up playing a magnitude of important roles. From the vastness shown by the ship surrounded by miles of ocean water to the small visual elements that show how the contaminated water has infected all the crew. The contrast generated between the fishermen quarantined but also trapped under the Irish Ocean adds another layer of claustrophobia. Sea fever Creates an invisible atmosphere while also showing the power and threat that water has.

8

Sphere (1998)

A well-rounded adventure

Based on Michael Crichton’s book, bullet Explores a very defined set of characters who discover a more than 300-year-abandoned ship. Often overlooked compared to some of Samuel L. jackson’s best movies, bullet is able to shine a light on his character Dr. Harry Adams and his more cautious counterpart, Dr. Norman Goodman.

While the majority of films like to paint the ocean as this huge force, bullet Use it as a representation of the unknown. This is one of the rare cases where we can see that the characters’ descent into the ocean mirrors their descent into the unknown. At the same time, it also represents the psychological challenges they begin to face. Scenes where they are underwater and talking to Jerry, a “stranger”, leave the viewers feeling as claustrophobic and endangered as the characters themselves.

7

Underneath (2002)

Trapped together

Documenting the fictional incident of a crew in the Atlantic Ocean in 1943, Below Shows the mysterious event in a confined space. While the movie contains jump scenes, Its real terror lies in the way the producers have cleverly combined two genres. This atmospheric ghost thriller mixes the concept of an underwater U.S. it. Army submarine setting with lots of historical context and an underlying ghost story.

in Below, It appears as if the USS Tiger Shark is going through typical submarine movie problems. However, the cinematography used to reflect this movie is what makes it special. The twists of the movie mixed with the cast’s never-ending paranoia Make it remarkable even to this day.

6

Captain Phillips (2013)

Based on a real nightmare

Pay more than $200 million against a budget of $55 million, Captain Phillips is one of the best movies in the ocean. While it may not be one of Tom Hanks’ most underrated movies, it still doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Captain PhillipsYet again, proves that director Greengrass’ thrillers are like no other.

Based on a true story surrounding the events of the hijacking of the MV Maersk in 2009, Captain Phillips Makes viewers experience the despair and desperation of being trapped in the middle of the ocean with no hope of rescue. The Somali crew, although not widely recognized actors, stole the show. They made the movie so immersive that it’s easy for viewers to forget that it’s just a movie.

5

Triangle (2009)

Lost in a sea of ​​repetition

Filled with fantasy, survival and sci-fi moments, Triangle is an ocean-based film where a group of friends end up on a yacht in the middle of the always scary western part of the North Atlantic Ocean. While the Bermuda Triangle itself is surrounded by urban legends and just an overall mystical aura, the movie takes that to its advantage. What seems at first like a typical slasher, blooms into a mind-bending mystery. Triangle is simply a rewarding experience.

finally, It is evident that the ocean played a bigger role than just intimidating as in other movies. It acts as a catalyst for the time loop and the strange events that the characters go through. The ocean itself is what adds tension to the film, both as an atmospheric element but also as a plot device.

4

The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

Just a fisherman in the ocean

Often forgotten by most, The old man and the sea is a movie whose focal point is just that: an old Cuban is stranded for days, alone, on a boat. While at first, the premise may not sound like much, the lack of other locations helps the audience concentrate more on the details and symbolism behind it.

In the original The old man and the sea Book, The Ocean is supposed to embody life and the individual’s role in it, and directors John Struges and Fred Zinnemann delivered just that. Although not as thrilling as other ocean-based features, The old man and the sea is not short of impressive moments. The wide shot of the never-ending ocean, the zoom in Santiago’s hopeful face, and the panned-out view of the man alone on his boat, let the audience feel the vastness and isolation. However, moments like Santiago trying to catch the giant marlin make the whole experience worth it.

3

The Abyss (1989)

Alien encounter in the deep

Winning the 1990 Oscar for Best Visual Effects, The abyss is a movie that features one of the best special effects in a James Cameron movie. Unlike many other sea adventure thrillers, it has a sci-fi element added and this can be remarked by how they cleverly played with the concept of water itself.

In his first clips, the water is illustrated as something eerie, but beautiful. This is a more character-driven film, and it can be seen that the deeper they got, so did the ocean’s appearance. The scenes with water manipulating aliens are what ultimately take the cake. The images of the sea water tentacle converting into a face are timeless. Scenes like when the humans are reasoning with an alien under the water are still thought about even 35 years later.

2

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Fly, you fools!

The Poseidon Adventure Tells the story of a cruise ship that sank in the ocean. The approach of the movie is more misadventure. The ocean here is not seen as boundless or even mysterious as in other films, but as a wild, turbulent force in the form of a tsunami. They were released in 1972, they did not count on a lot of visual effects or the virtual imagery that is available now, so the fact that they could record the huge wall of water so naturally makes it more astonishing.

The film opens with a tidal wave claiming hundreds of passengers’ lives, proving just how merciless it is. The few remaining people are trying to survive on the scraps of what the ship once was depressing. The attention to detail in scenes like the gigantic wave seen through binoculars, the once-living corridors flooding, and the ballroom being flooded with water show how even the grandest of ships can be reduced to a mere shell of its former self in seconds. .

1

Jaws (1975)

fear the deep

Despite being released almost 50 years ago, Jaws Still holds up to this day as one of Steven Spielberg’s best movies with the most iconic moments. Even with its dated technology, The images captured from the endless, intimidating ocean that holds the ferocious creatures still roam through people’s mindsEven after so long. The suspense-packed scenes, like when Brody feeds the fish and suddenly a massive shark’s head appears next to him, became historic in the genre.

Being the first movie ever to gross more than one hundred million dollars, Jaws showed the general audience how terrifying the ocean can be. While the first half of the movie takes place on land, focusing more on fear mongering, the second half is an adventure in the depths of the ocean. Opening with scenes like Chrissie getting eaten, this movie is simply hypnotic, but suspenseful from the start.