We are able to’t inform you how complicated it’s to see Ben Wheatley’s identify on the credit for Meg 2: The Trench. It may not imply a lot to different individuals, however this can be a director that introduced us Kill Record, Sightseers and A Area in England, among the most twisted and sensible British horror of the century. And right here he’s, directing the Stath in a sequel to Meg. In what world does that make sense?
A world the place individuals want cash, clearly. But, considering again to our expertise of Meg 2: The Trench, it makes the tiniest sliver of sense. As a result of the primary half, in a ramshackle, knock-off method that’s true to a variety of Jason Statham films, is tense and good enjoyable. Whereas we wouldn’t have stood up and shouted “this should be a Ben Whatley film!”, it’s compelling in a lot the identical method as his different films. The opposite half of Meg 2, although? Not a lot.
Let’s set the scene. Jason Statham performs Jonas Taylor, a marine biologist by day and an ass-kicking eco-warrior by evening. He’s nonetheless working for the Zhang household, on this case Jiuming Zhang (Jing Wu), who’s growing the expertise required to discover past the thermocline of the Mariana Trench. Clearly, the 2 of them didn’t get sufficient megalodon motion within the first film, and so they need some extra. Oh, and Jiuming Zhang has a pet meg, which he trains in a large Seaworld-like pen, exterior of the analysis facility. Jonas doesn’t like that an excessive amount of, and he offers Jiuming all types of scowls.
Jonas can be a father or mother now. He’s adopted Meiying (Shuya Sophia Cai), and appears to be co-parenting with everybody else within the Mana One facility. She’s decided to become involved in all the Mariana Trench exploration, though she’s an adolescent, which implies extra scowls from Jason. She stows away on an tour past the thermocline with two-thirds of the Mana One crew, which is one thing of an issue as issues quickly go flawed. There’s a rogue, rival crew already ensconced within the trench, and so they attempt to destroy Jason’s submarines. Whether or not or not this feels uncomfortable after the real-world Titan explosion is as much as you.
The stuff that comes earlier than this part is usually risible stuff. Why on earth Jiuming is protecting a pet meg is past us, and there’s some duff manufactured stress as he swims round with it. There’s additionally some clumsy foreshadowing, as two individuals clearly seem like they’re stepping into their bad-guy garments. However hey, we didn’t anticipate subtlety from a Jason Statham joint.
However the stuff within the Mariana Trench? Whisper it, however it’s rather well executed. Certain, it pilfers from nearly each underwater and alien survival movie, because it evokes emotions of Pitch Black, Alien, The Abyss and extra. However these are some rattling good films, and Meg 2: The Trench has a good stab at emulating them. The Deep Sea wildlife are unique, fascinating and finally threatening, and there’s no clear thought – exterior of Stath and younger Meiying – of who would possibly survive. It’s right here the place the movie feels most Wheatley-esque, as he enjoys the hell out of making an underwater world that no one has seen earlier than. The megs turn into a footnote to all the pieces else.
It doesn’t make sense, in fact. The science is made up as they go alongside, and doesn’t even abide by the movie’s inside consistency. It’s important to toss reasoning to the wind, and it’s greatest to eliminate it early, because it’s utterly ignored within the second half of the film. There’s additionally some oddnesses, because the second, malevolent firm doesn’t make a lot sense. What they’re doing, how they’re doing it, and why so few of them are listed here are all completely legitimate questions that gained’t get answered.
We have been strapped in and having fun with Meg 2’s unexpectedly good time. A dumb good time, in fact. However then Meg 2: The Trench pivots within the second half of the film to turn into Piranha 3D. And that’s not a superb factor.
We don’t wish to reveal an excessive amount of about Meg 2’s second half, however for sure that the motion returns to the floor with a number of unwelcome guests. What ensues is such a wild tonal shift that it felt like we’d handed by the thermocline ourselves.
There’s a touch that Meg 2 goes this fashion due to DJ (Web page Kennedy) and Mac (Cliff Curtis), two Meg 1 alumni, who’re left on the floor. They become involved in a kidnapping farce that entails preventing dozens of marines however successful due to dumb luck and dumb all the pieces else. It’s performed for giggles whereas the crew down beneath are caught up in Ridley Scott’s Alien. Which is as a lot of a mis-match because it sounds.
However the pratfalling and stupidness wins out, because it turns into the dominant tone for the second half of the film. DJ and Mac take a central function, everyone begins making essentially the most goofy, pointless selections (Meiying chief amongst them), and the creatures simply turn into autos for ridiculous deaths. It’s much less concerning the menace they pose – and so they have been very a lot a menace within the first half – and extra about how many individuals the creatures can hoover up in a brief area of time.
The chaste 12 / PG-13 certificates doesn’t assist issues. Initially of Meg 2: The Trench, the megalodons and their mates are all concerning the menace they pose. Once they pounce, it’s hardly ever on display screen, and the impact is a heightened sense of anything-goes. However as soon as the film enters its ultimate part, the creatures are all out and visual, and so they have to begin paying off on that menace. Because of the 12 certificates, it’s noticeably censored. One of many enemies will get handled offscreen, however it’s so cold that we genuinely didn’t know in the event that they survived or not. When your 12 certificates is inflicting confusion, then you understand one thing is flawed.
Meg 2: The Trench may be very a lot a movie of two halves. Every part beneath the thermocline, on this planet of the megalodons, is prime motion tosh. We have been swept up in it, feeling as claustrophobic because the groups despatched down there.
We couldn’t keep down there without end, although, sadly. Returning to the floor, the claustrophobia will get swapped out for broad comedy and monster-movie silliness, and it’s not a good commerce. We discovered ourselves wistfully considering again to the opening moments and wishing we remained there. In Meg 3 maybe.
We’re nonetheless chewing over that Ben Wheatley directorial credit score. Hopefully he’s received his pay day now, and might return to creating insidious horror films.
