Uncovering the Flaws: The Meg vs Shark Movies - What You Need to Know
Why do massive megalodons fail to make a big splash in shark movies? The Meg's lack of cinematic impact and its disappointing sequel only worsened the situation Dive into the horror genre, not action, to understand the true essence of shark movies
Highlights
The Meg movies fail to capture the essence of traditional shark movies, lacking suspense and genuine characters that audiences can connect with.
The content fragment
By prioritizing CGI and extravagant budgets rather than skillfully building suspense, the studio weakens the potential of the films to become enjoyable B-movie flicks.
Disappointingly, The Meg 2: The Trench fails to meet expectations as it follows the same formula as its predecessor, lacking in sustained tension and relying heavily on explosive action sequences.
It's no surprise that Warner Bros. Discovery, the entertainment conglomerate, is fixated on creating a tentpole franchise with The Meg in 2018 and its recent sequel, Meg 2: The Trench. The film studio hopes to replicate the blockbuster magic of Steven Spielberg's iconic 1975 film Jaws, which revolutionized the concept of summer movies. On the other hand, the TV and streaming division aims to cater to the loyal fanbase of their annual Shark Week event, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. However, due to these conflicting approaches, the Meg movies fail to satisfy theatergoers who simply crave a thrilling shark experience.
The series stars Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor, a rescue diver and action hero. It revolves around a skilled team of scientists and wealthy individuals who specialize in oceanography, environmental preservation, and battling gigantic 75-foot megalodons. While the first film earned an impressive $530 million with a $130 million budget, the second film still achieved a respectable gross of $395 million with a similar budget. Despite their financial success, both The Meg and The Meg 2 fail to capture the essence of classic shark movies, as they fundamentally misunderstand what makes this subgenre so captivating.
The Meg Misunderstands Shark Movies
Jon Turteltaub, director of the National Treasure franchise, took on the challenge of bringing the 2018 film The Meg to life. Based on Steve Alten's novel, Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror, this project faced numerous challenges and delays before finally making its way to the big screen. Disney acquired the film rights back in 1990, envisioning a sci-fi source material that would serve as the perfect foundation for a gripping horror thriller set in the depths of the ocean. The aim was to capture the same tense atmosphere as John Carpenter's classic, The Thing (1982), where individuals are pitted against a deadly creature in a game of deep-sea chess. However, The Meg ultimately fell short of expectations, devolving into a predictable action adventure with underdeveloped characters and unoriginal themes centered around corporate greed and the negative impact of human actions on the environment.
On the other hand, Jaws stands as the epitome of shark cinema, offering its fair share of thrilling spectacle. Notably, the climactic battle between man and shark, lasting nearly 30 minutes, is a prime example. Yet, the true suspense of this sequence stems not from the shark itself, but from the audience's genuine concern for the fate of the characters they have grown to care about. Chief Martin Brody, burdened with guilt and unsure of his ability to protect his family, shark hunter Quint, an eccentric and determined figure whose presence rivals that of the shark, and oceanographer Matt Hooper, a passionate expert on sharks, bring depth and humanity to their roles. They transcend the boundaries of their characters and feel like relatable individuals. In contrast, The Meg falls into the trap of relying on shallow caricatures, each possessing a single defining trait or skill for the convenience of the plot.
The Meg 2 Made Things Worse
The release of Meg 2: The Trench this summer initially generated hope, thanks to the involvement of Ben Wheatley, the acclaimed director of Free Fire (2016) and In the Earth (2021). However, the studio system proved to be a significant obstacle, resulting in a film that essentially served as a duplicate of its predecessor, only with more elements. The movie featured an abundance of sharks, deep-sea creatures, and unfortunate prey, to the point where it could easily have been titled "Megs" due to the excessive use of the word by Jonas and his companions.
During its first half, Meg 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor by emphasizing and intensifying its environmental themes. Jonas finds himself facing off against a group of eco-terrorists who operate an illegal mining venture in the Mariana Trench, leaving the crew trapped in complete darkness amidst the trench's debris. What initially promised to be a terrifying sequence transforms into an extravagant spectacle, as everyone must navigate a relentless onslaught of explosions, megs, mini-megs, and even a colossal octopus. The second half of the film then repeats these scenarios, only this time at a bustling vacation resort. Unfortunately, the movie lacks sustained tension or any gradual buildup of action, instead careening from one scene to another at a pace that can only be described as ludicrous.
Shark Movies are Horror, Not Action
One of the most renowned anecdotes in the history of cinema involves the frequent malfunctions of the mechanical sharks used in the film Jaws. This compelled Spielberg to rely on the power of suggestion and the masterful musical score by John Williams. Few moments in film are as iconic as Spielberg's camera panning up to the thrashing legs at the ocean surface, accompanied by Williams' subtle symphony reaching its climax. The "Megs" don't need to go to such lengths to provide entertainment. All they require is to embrace their B-movie silliness, similar to how Deep Blue Sea (1999) excels. However, instead of doing so, they play out like big-budget iterations of Sharknado—movies that openly admit they aren't even attempting to be good.
With endless creative possibilities available, Warner Bros. Discovery has chosen the safest path by prioritizing CGI over thoughtfully crafted suspense. Even as an action-packed film, it lacks distinctive qualities that would set it apart from other creature feature blockbusters of its kind. Regarding a potential third installment, Wheatley has expressed to TotalFilm his belief that "there is much more to explore in that world" and his hope to return for another thrilling ride. This time, hopefully, he can persuade the studio to infuse these regrettably toothless shark films with a bit more bite.
