Submerged (I) (2016) User Reviews

Just let it drown

[quincytheodore · 3/10 · 29 November 2015]

Submerged is part about incessant screaming by the stereotypical rich kids and part obscure noir narrative. It's ambitiously fueled by back and forth timelines as well as a shot in the dark for thriller genre, all of which are below standard. The lack of focus, inconsistent acting and bad characterization make it a very suffocating experience to endure.

Story opens up pretty interestingly with a reinforced car slowly drowning. It would've been better to stick with this core plot, instead it tries to be pretentiously clever with all sort of gangster subplots and highly unmemorable party junkie characters. The main lead has a couple of good scenes, although he still makes awkward expressions here and there. The rest of cast is even more imbalanced and as the pace shifts too many times, the plot ends up muddled and cumbersome.

Acting is poor all around, mostly because the script only consists of expected blaming and yelling. Not that the characters have any shred of spark in the first place, these people are like 90210 rejects with brasher attitude. To make matter worst, one third of the movie is dedicated to build these personalities without any effective result. Never mind likable, audience probably wouldn't recognize them mid-way through the movie and wouldn't care less about their situation.

Granted, it has some success with the thriller aspect of being confined in small space, albeit briefly. Then it falls like a rock in river with shady crime drama. There's a good ten minutes of standoff with people showing up literally behind each other while pointing gun. As if the random materialization isn't bad enough, the characters even engage in melee showdown while the camera insanely spins around them while they are making stupid faces.

Submerged has one decent idea, which it intentionally ruins with so many awful presentation fiasco. This is an allegory of strapping a cinder-block to oneself and jumping off the bridge.

Falls short of expectations

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 26 September 2017]

SUBMERGED is a disappointing low budget thriller from the man who brought us the excellent little gem THE AGGRESSION SCALE. It's nowhere near on the same scale as that fine film; instead this is a single-location thriller that lacks suspense and thrills. The story sees an unlikeable bunch of teenagers trapped underwater in a limousine, but instead of focusing on their situation, the whole thing descends into endless flashbacks which go down the low rent thriller route. There are no recognisable or indeed likable actors here aside from Mario Van Peebles in a bit part. Overall, it's a big disappointment.

It's alright

[barrymorex19 · 4/10 · 21 November 2017]

I honestly only watched this because Willa Ford is in it. Then I come to find out that she has about 3 lines in the entire movie. It was a bit predictable at times I will admit, but I didn't hate it like most of the other reviewers. It's OK for what it is, a low-budget, b-movie. It was refreshing to see Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett) from Mean Girls in a newer film.

Simply awful

[khan_rado · 2/10 · 27 November 2015]

Have you ever watched a film that it seems longer than it actually is? Have you ever felt that the ending is so near but it turns out that you're nowhere near the half of it? This is the case with this one.

To start off, the story is nothing exciting or original but just the opposite - it's boring and predictable. The dialogues are bad and the way they are delivered makes them even terrible. It appears the director and the writer ran out of ideas and decided to fill the script with screaming and curse words which makes the film feel dull. The characters have no depth or development as the story progresses. No character stands out, none of them is really likable or memorable.

The acting is very poor. There are some scenes that are meant to be dramatic but because of bad acting they look funny. The actors make strange facial expressions which doesn't suite the situations their characters are in. The main actor has the same expression throughout the whole film as if he's constantly wondering what is going on. All actors are overacting and trying too hard.

The music used is calm and ambient but it's inappropriate for this kind of story (after all, it's about people trapped in a limo underwater). The visual pleasure is also ruined by the shaking camera even at times when it should be still.

A film that is not interesting enough to hold attention well. It has many flaws that make it unwatchable.

Some people are in the wrong jobs!

[larkinbelle-180-887713 · 1/10 · 28 November 2015]

I agree with the viewer Radomir, this movie is SIMPLY AWFUL no clue what the other viewers was watching saying "it is a good thriller", his brain must be wired wrong or he works for the people behind this cinematic crap; it seriously belongs to the trash can, an insult without an inch of common sense. Everything Radomir said is true, the acting is bad, the the story lacks and the action are of the dumbest i ever seen. I feel sorry for Tim Daly and Mario Van Peebles who i deem superior to such commercial garbage,and i watched this movie for, but as usual the attractive people instead of talented get in the front. The only good actor playing the main lead brother is Cody Christian who is currently working on Teen Wolf and Pretty Little Liars, and he was killed off!SHOCKER!Im not gonna resume all the movie but in brief only the parts and characters that really got on my nerves. Now i gotta say that actor from Chicago PD Samuel C Hung who plays Brandon in this movie was he worst disappointment, he just cannot play the crazy, his acting was ll over the map, overdone it, i just wanna yell" go back to Intelligence sit behind the computer and keep your mouth shut" ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL! The worst part was to watch the death of 5 people just to save the rich spoiled girl, after watching the leading actor,throughout the movie just sitting in the driving seat of a limo with a wound in his leg daydreaming and look around doing practically nothing,he suddenly gets creative to save the rich brat, he could have done that earlier saving everyone or at least try! All i wanted to do is to rip both characters apart! Then the two s****rs "driving in the sunset" at the end with her papa' blessings?? Please do no waste 99 min of you life on this sh**, i have been regretting that ever since.SERIOUSLY WRITERS?? Please You need a change of career!

A sunken limo, filled with spoiled rich kids. Sounds like "Beverly Hills 90210" in a fish bowl.

[peterp-450-298716 · 2/10 · 3 May 2016]

"Submerged". The only thing I'm excited about is the sublime movie poster. A good example of an excellent graphic design with a brilliant and powerful one-liner "You can not scream and hold your breath at the same time". Now, the unfortunate teens who are trapped in a sunken limo, haven't hold their breath, I'm sure. On the contrary, there was a lot of shouting to be heard down there. Would I be in such a claustrophobic situation, I would break out in a cold sweat. I really don't like confined spaces. But admit it, being trapped in a limousine at the bottom of a canal, knowing that the pressure on that modest roof must be enormous, while being surrounded by some young hotheads who are acting hysterical and blaming each other, looks like a far worse nightmare.

So if you're expecting an exciting, nerve-racking movie, you'll be brought down to earth with a shock. The moment Matt (Jonathan Bennett) sees the nose of the sophisticated limousine dive into the water, it looks like this might be the start of a promising thriller. Unfortunately you'll subsequently undergo a series of flashbacks that explain the cause of this accident. Also we come to know that Matt has a younger brother, Dylan (Cody Christian), with some personal problems. This seemed like a irrelevant parallel plot. In the end the whole thing leads to Jessie (Talulah Riley). She's the daughter of businessman and millionaire Hank (Tim Daly), who evoked the wrath of the locals due to drastic cutbacks. Therefore, he recruited Matt as his chauffeur and bodyguard to protect him and his daughter from possible reprisals.

The remaining part of the film shows the situation in the sunken limousine and the efforts being made by the youngsters to get out. Matt can't help with this since he's impaled in some way to the car. Jessie lies unconscious next to him after she was being drugged. And the only thing the other hysterical four sitting in the back could come up with, was useless banging on windows and accusing each other of being an accomplice. That's why Matt closes the soundproof partition now and then. Next to a totally implausible denouement, there are also some ridiculous and ludicrous developments. I'm still trying to figure out how the trick with the trunk of the car worked. The designer of this car was very foreseeing. And I'm also pretty sure that a smashed glass roof would cause a devastating flood of water and not only such a pitifully little bit of water.

The most positive part was the running time. It's a short and compact wannabe thriller without much sensational events. Most of it, is already shown elsewhere before. Afterward, it looks more like a thriller-episode of "Melrose Place" or some similar crap teen series from the 80s. Talulah Riley is a spoiled brat that doesn't really excels when it comes to intelligence (look for "Inception" in IMDb and you'll see she plays a "Blonde" there). Actually, the whole gang has a similar level of intelligence. You can conclude that the idea behind the story is kind of original, but the elaboration failed hugely.

More reviews here : http://bit.ly/1KIdQMT

I never give one star.

[Embroideredjune · 1/10 · 19 February 2016]

Or well, I hardly ever give one star to a movie. I can always find something to like about it. But this? This was a train wreck from start to finish. Honestly, why people give it good reviews is beyond me.

It was the poster that intrigued me to watch this movie, I like photography and that looked like a poster from a movie I'd enjoy watching on Friday night. But, I actually spend more time playing a game on my phone than watching the actual movie - because I have a policy not to turn off movies, even when they suck. The acting was terrible, the multiple plot twist were terrible, the film angles and sound were terrible. Do I need to go on?

Though the guy from Teen Wolf was kind of cute for the three minutes he was actually in the movie? Maybe he is the one star.

To put it in one word, this movie was an entire NOPE.

Oh Man..

[thwip86 · 2/10 · 13 March 2021]

When I saw Mario Van Peebles name come up on the credits I should have known. I was going to take it easy on this one until (spoiler) the other low rent actor ripped off HL's joker near the end.

Like many things from So Ca, Absolutely tasteless.

Good Thriller / Fun Ride

[trudyjessup · 23 July 2017]

Not sure this one is gonna win an Oscar, but it's impressive work for such a low budget. They seemed to bite off a lot and although there were a few misses, overall it connects. It's definitely a fun ride and hits with some good tension and scares. Performances hold up under difficult circumstances. Overall it's very enjoyable and would recommend to others.

Pretty good for an indie thriller.

[djangozelf-12351 · 7/10 · 27 November 2015]

This is actually better than I expected. It's in no way top notch but it's a nice story. Told in flashback style while they are trapped in this limo.

For B-movie actors they acted well enough. Most famous name being Mario van Peebles and he played an unusual character. Direction felt solid and the story falls nicely in place in the end.

Special effects are not great but sufficient. Camera work sometimes felt a little "experimental" but also O.K. One of the better indie movies I've seen in a while.

I recommend you go see it.

It's worth checking out sometime.

Who's this movie for?

[aaron4885 · 1/10 · 19 June 2017]

Wow. Take a scenario where a corporate big wig with money in offshore accounts, hired bodyguards, expensive suits and shoes that just laid off half a town from their employment, ruining countless lives. A spoiled daughter born with a silver spoon in her mouth, riding in limousines etc.

Then, have angry townspeople for the position they found themselves in due to their unemployment: loss of income, loss of health and life insurance, unable to pay their home mortgages, hungry babies. etc.

Now, , , we are supposed to feel sorry for the corporate giant and his putrid crotch daughter and root for them to kill off the upset towns people.

What's wrong with this picture?

It could have been a good movie if they just rethought the ending a bit.

Above Average Thriller for this day and age

[TexiCaliMovieLover67 · 8/10 · 4 June 2016]

I've been visiting IMDb.com for over 8 years and this is my first online review, ever. I'm writing this review because I've seen a lot of bad movies, and this is not one of them.

Maybe it's because of my age (I'm in my 40s), but I disagree with the negative reviews posted. Funny thing is, I almost skipped over this one because of the bad reviews -- I'm glad I didn't because this movie draws you in and, after the first 20 minutes, I was hooked... and you will be too.

In this day and age where it seems all Hollywood can do is either create movies from comic book heroes OR remake classics, it's hard to find good movies to watch. Is Submerged the best movie ever made? No. But, it's definitely way, way better than average.

I thought the director used the flashbacks very well in building the characters and telling the story. The acting was definitely above average and there is more than enough tension. Mario Van Peebles did a great job, too. Where the heck has Mario been?? Jonathan Bennett and Tim Daly also were very good -- the entire cast did well. Finally, the cinematography, the editing and the music are all top notch. I can't understand why all the bad reviews. Submerged is a good thriller and worth your while to watch.

I'm not going to give any of the story away but if you are over 30 years old and you're looking for a good thriller to pass the time, don't pass this one up. It will keep you submerged... until the end.

Kudos to the director, the producers, the cast... and everyone involved.

Under Water (clear)

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 24 June 2021]

At first I thought this was going to play underwater for the whole running time, but it turned out it doesn't. We get to see how the characters trapped there ... got there. So it is a neat storytelling trick to start in the present and then go back and show the viewers how we got there. I'd say it does have a few twists and turns too many ... but than again this is low budget ... and for that it looks good and the actors are quite well chosen too.

So while this may have some holes (in character choices and turns), it still is more than a worthwhile watch to say the least. Charismatic leads and all that included - again for the budget - always keep that in mind.

Entertaining

[Ameliex · 5/10 · 18 November 2017]

This movie wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. I have seen far worst movies that got better reviews than this. If you are bored and have nothing to watch this movie will 100% entertain you. Through out the movie you keep thinking what will happen next, it indeed kept you on your toes. The movie is made well, but the thing i missed was more emotions in this movie. The characters didn't show as much emotions as i wish they did. It is a movie with a twist as well, because at the end you keep wondering who was the mastermind behind it. You will get surprised in regards to who it was. I do recommend this movie, when you have nothing else to watch. It was entertaining.

What happened here?

[zapalloso · 1/10 · 16 October 2021]

How can they do something so bad? It is good that they want to tell a story in a non-linear way, but for doing that they needed to know how to edit and write a script that allows the viewer to reconstruct the plot, even if it is not presented chronologically. But in this monstrosity there is nothing of the kind: we never knew who these "characters" were or why they were underwater ... Supposedly there was a kidnapping but it was not known whether it turned out according to plan or what happened. .. One of the worst "movies" I've ever seen.

Impossibly lame!

[rootsandwings-54745 · 2/10 · 18 August 2022]

I watched in morbid fascination as Jonathan Bennett effectively killed his acting career. Although likeable enough in rom com or as a host, he is just plain weird in this. His acting is off, all the time. Clearly, JB was out of his element with this one.

As of the story, it is full of holes and in dire need of some logic. Someone in tge writing department should have regroup their thoughts cause this story is all over the place.

The characters are utterly forgettable. How did they get Tim Daly on board for that colossal fail is beyond me! Watch something else, unless you love bad movies.

Not a masterpiece but a decent movie

[neilor-1 · 8/10 · 30 September 2017]

First of all this is a B-movie. Don't judge is as a film by Spielberg of Tarantino. As a thriller it has enough suspense and twists. The scenario is interesting and actors are doing very well. Overall Submerged is worth watching and I didn't regret that I stumbled upon it. Don't pay attention to reviews – watch the film and decide for yourself!

Pretty good

[ladydainara · 9/10 · 4 September 2019]

One thing to remember when reviewing IFC Midnight is they make B movies. They are either very very likable or very very hatable. There is rare;y any in between. This one to me was one of the likables.

A business man inherits a company from his family and in order to afford to keep the company in the usa he has to let alot of people go. This leads to people who have worked there for generations to be extremely ticked off. They begin to make threats on his life and that of his daughter. So he hires a bodyguard to drive her around and watch over for her. As the story plays out we have him taking her and her friends to a party which because of bad behavior they leave early. Kidnappers try to make a grab for her and in escaping and fleeing they end up sunken in the canal with the tide threatening to drag them out to sea. Most of movie is them trying to figure out a way out of the car before their air runs out or the car floods whichever comes first. It has extra time because i is an enhanced limo. You see all the drama and all the emotion that come out of people being trapped together in a fatal situation. Some of it is irritating...but it is true to human reaction and thus understandable.

This movie is an exciting roller coaster ride of emotions. You feel them all from seeing their joy, anger, sadness fear and revenge