Review of Deep Rising (1998) by Billy B — 10 Mar 2012

A small cargo-boat comes across a seemingly abandoned cruis liner only to discover ancient creatures are on the hunt for their next meal.

Deep Rising is one of those "so bad it's good" films. It's cheesy and just a great popcorn flick. Even with crappy effects and ridden with cliche's, the film manages to mix it's horror with comedy quite well and is one of the stand-outs of the late 90's horror bunch. For starters, creatures hunting ship patrons is just a terrific premise that from the get go you know doesn't take itself seriously, and thats why I think it's comedy worked so well. It had some cool death scenes and an awesome score, and even the ending which was predictable goves the audience one last laugh.

The films plot definately had many visible plot holes, but I just take that as part of the fun in this case. It's lead characters were witty and vulnerable, but found the strength not to give up, everything a survival flick like this needs. The creature effects were just horrible to say the least, and even though for their time (1998) I suppose they wouldn't have been as bad, I think this film has a cult following somewhere around the world.

The acting was great. The lucious Famke Janssen played villian turn heroine Trillian St James, and plays victim and survivor with such strength and sexiness that she ought to be applauded. Treat Williams played comedic relief John Finnigan to a tee. The only annoying thing about the film was Anthony Heald. His character was a complete douche wanker, and the audience just waits and waits for him to die.

Overall Deep Rising is the perfect popcorn flick. Full of cheesy over-the-top fun that blends horror and comedy perfectly. My rating is 4/5.