The briny deep has long been a source for cinematic suspense. It's troubling not knowing what lies beneath the ocean's surface, and filmmakers have capitalized on that fear to maximum effect for ages. A number of features have hopped on this bandwagon of exploration into Davy Jones's locker, covering everything from real-life animals to made-up monsters and even humanity's own will to survive. Neasa Hardiman's feature debut borrows from the latter, examining how human interaction evolves when an unexplainable danger makes itself known and people are forced to work together to save one another. Once it overcomes its initial storytelling lulls, Sea Fever embarks on a thrilling creature-feature adventure with a message that's all-too-timely.

Hermione Corfield leads this film as a brilliant, yet completely socially inept, marine biology student named Siobhán who sets sail on a fishing trawler off the coast of Ireland as part of her studies. The boat is headed up by a couple named Gerard and Freya (Dougray Scott and Connie Nielsen, respectively), with their charismatic motley crew forming a very close-knit group of voyagers. Unfortunately, a warm welcome proves to be a harder task than expected for socially awkward Siobhán to accomplish, as the crew's cold assumptions about her -- stemming from bad omens and superstitions, most notably from her striking red hair -- don't make introductions much easier, either.

Their interactions with one another soon take a backseat after the boat is brought to a sudden halt by a mysterious force beneath the ocean's surface. Something has latched itself onto them, and the slimy blue substance spilling from cracks in the trawler's hull makes matters even more unsettling. Unfortunately, there's only one way to really figure out what's going on: dive underneath. What's discovered is a monstrous-looking sea creature unlike anything recorded by humankind. Tentacles illuminating a vibrant blue contrast with the ocean's murky darkness, making for a striking introduction. However, it's what's releasing from this mysterious creature that's far more terrifying than itself, and this is where Hardiman's film really kicks into high gear. The slime that's secreted from its vibrant tentacles is carrying a small, and incredibly deadly, parasite, forcing the crew to push past their personal grievances and act quickly to ensure one another's safety.


There are many moments throughout this film that harken back to classic creature features. Underwater setups just beneath the sea's picturesque surface pay homage to Spielberg's exceptional camerawork used in Jaws, heightening suspense by allowing the viewer to sit in the discomfort of unknowingness. There are also a handful of scenes that borrow from the brilliance of Alien and The Thing, honoring their greatest cinematic techniques while crafting a wholly original experience. Hardiman is unabashedly confident as a director, showing off her own creative talents while simultaneously shining a light on the filmmakers that helped pave the way for films like hers. It's clear she was inspired by some of these films, but the beauty of Sea Fever is that it's entirely original in its execution, excitedly branching from that genre to create something thrilling and fresh.

The film's production design certainly helps in making it stand out as well. Production designer Ray Ball contrasts the ship's rusty and cold interior with the ocean's wide variety of blues, ranging from the calming light coloring of its surface to the dark and gloomy world below. The creature's bioluminescent tentacles also introduce another layer of blues to the color palette, creating an abundance of captivating visuals that bring an aura of beauty into this terrifying world of dire circumstance. Cinematographer Ruairí O'Brien does an excellent job capturing these scenes as well, helping to make Sea Fever an attention-grabbing narrative and visual experience.


However, Hardiman's script lulls in select places (mainly during the film's initial set up), and doesn't truly hit its stride until the creature makes itself known to the vulnerable crew. Thankfully, Sea Fever is largely character-driven, and the immensely talented cast provides enough energy to set this slowed cruiser back in motion. Corfield, especially, is captivating as the savvy Siobhán. She fully embodies the character with such ease that she feels authentic, even in her moments of complete and utter social discomfort. It's clear she's a complex individual, and although those aspects of her aren't fully explored, it adds enough interesting layers to make her compelling to the viewer.

Unfortunately, this lack of exploration is also where Sea Fever hits a wall. There are many moments where it seems as if it were holding back from reaching its greatest potential as a narrative feature, leaving a feeling of wanting just a little bit more by the end. However, Hardiman's bold debut provides just enough to solidify her as a filmmaker worth keeping an eye out for in the future. It's also a film with a troublingly timely message, emphasizing the importance of working together against an unknown entity to ensure the safety of others (a message that rings especially true today with the escalating coronavirus pandemic). For this reason alone, Sea Fever will surely resonate with audiences from the get-go, but it's also an excellent example of daring and original storytelling, which is something worth celebrating in a cinematic world that thrives on sequels and remakes. It's clear Hardiman is a knockout storyteller with plenty to say, and it'll be exciting to see what thrilling adventures she has in store for audiences next.

Sea Fever releases On-Demand and digitally on April 10. It's 89 minutes long and not yet rated.