Travis Lytle’s review published on Letterboxd:
Part horror film, part action/adventure, part disaster movie, Renny Harlin's "Deep Blue Sea" is high-powered, multi-genre fun. Fast and full of crackling tension, the film is an exciting and full-bodied, pitting human versus nature in a battle of life and death. Harlin's most exhilarating outing, "Deep Blue Sea" is a relentlessly entertaining piece of work.
Yet another version of the "Frankenstein" myth, the film's narrative finds a group of scientists experimenting with shark's brains in order to find a cure for Alzheimer's. Of course, the scientists create monsters of the already-dangerous creatures, and all manner of Mako-generated mayhem breaks loose when the fish outgrow their captivity.
It is a compelling if recognizable story, and Harlin executes it with a ferocious energy. A loud, muscular adventure that gets its strength from it heroic characters, the film moves swiftly as it combines action beats with horrific peril. "Deep Blue Sea" is jolting, harrowing, and gripping.
Harlin's cast is committed to the material, delivering characters with earnestness and personality. Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, and LL Cool J make attractive and magnetic leads, while Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgard, and Samuel L. Jackon provide well-drawn support. The characters are an ideal mix of star power and character actors, combining charisma, humor, and pathos. With the film's somewhat ironic treatment of traditional genre conventions, none of these names are safe from the dangers of the deep.
The film bears an expansive look that descends into water-logged claustrophobia as the plot progresses. The ocean depths are captured with color and clarity, and the assorted sets are alternately rustily lived-in and gleamingly clinical. The editing propels the film and the score punctuates the entire affair with triumphant bombast.
Made in 1999, the film suffers in small measure from its no-longer-state-of-the-art CG effects. Though they may have been cutting edge at the time, today, the computer-generated Makos are a tad underwhelming in some shots. Still, the motion of the film and the danger to its characters prevent out-of-context dwelling on the effects of a decade and a half ago.
Harlin harnesses classic themes, a winning cast, and palpable tension to create an electric and great adventure. With its horror conventions and explosive action rhythms, the film is pulse-pounding and fully alive. It is a slick, sleek, and memorable good time.