‘No Way Up’ Serves Up Disaster Movie Thrills With Just Enough Bite

It’s not simple being a fan of shark assault cinema nowadays. The subgenre has its classics (Jaws, 1975), its mean-spirited leisure (Tintorera: Killer Shark, 1977), its massive B-movie blasts (Deep Blue Sea, 1999), and its surprising surprises (Deep Blue Sea 3, 2020), however most entries instantly sink to the underside. It’s particularly dangerous nowadays as low-cost, ugly CG sharks have turn into the norm. Too many filmmakers don’t appear to be making the hassle to ship something more energizing than week-old fish, so it’s a pleasure when one thing outdoors of the field comes splashing into view. No Manner Up is a catastrophe/survival thriller with a really particular, and really surprising risk — sharks on a airplane.

The early flight from Los Angeles to Cabo is a principally empty one with solely a pair dozen individuals between the passengers and crew, nevertheless it’s about to get an entire lot leaner. An engine explodes after a chook strike, a big gap blows out the aspect of the airplane, and after a short respite floating atop the ocean, the airplane shortly submerges beneath the floor. Some are killed on affect, and others drown of their seats, however a handful of individuals take refuge behind the airplane the place an air bubble has shaped. Await a attainable rescue? Swim out the outlet and hope to achieve the floor? Higher determine fast because the water is rising… and the sharks have come calling to this surprising buffet.

There’s no two methods about it. “Sharks on a airplane” is a dumb concept. The place 2006’s Samuel L. Jackson car Snakes on a Aircraft made some extent of leaning in to the silliness of its premise, No Manner Up takes the other method. A severe thriller about sharks on a motherfucking airplane gained’t work for everybody, however soar in with the suitable B-movie expectations, and also you’re prone to be pleasantly stunned by its character, thrills, and resourcefulness.

The movie correctly offers over solely a short time to introducing its characters earlier than plunging them into chaos, nevertheless it’s sufficient time to get acquainted with the ensemble. Ava (Sophie McIntosh) is the governor’s daughter, an insecure younger girl so nervous a few trip along with her boyfriend Jed (Jeremias Amoore) and their good friend Kyle (Will Attenborough) that she asks her bodyguard Brandon (Colm Meaney) to hitch them. Hank (James Caroll Jordan) and Mardy (Phyllis Logan) are heading to a tropical timeshare with their granddaughter Rosa (Grace Nettle) in tow. And eventually, Danilo (Manuel Pacific) is the flight attendant fortunate sufficient to be assigned the rear of the airplane. To make certain, whether or not because of performances or writing, none of them handle to actually endear themselves to viewers. The plus aspect, although, is that none of them will instantly have you ever wishing they’d turn into shark meals both.

It’s a primary bunch, however as soon as they’re established, director Claudio Fäh and author Andy Mayson shift their focus in direction of maintaining No Manner Up shifting even after the airplane has come to a cease. One of the best catastrophe/survival thrillers know that the “massive” problem works finest when preceded by a collection of smaller, equally harmful threats. The last word purpose for these characters is to achieve the floor and security, however new prompts arrive on a steadily rising schedule. The water is rising contained in the airplane, and oxygen is restricted. The airplane itself is on an underwater ledge and infrequently shifting nearer to the sting. Accidents complicate choices for among the survivors. And eventually, sharks have begun swimming by means of the outlet and feasting on the useless. It’s not lengthy earlier than the predators set their sights on the dwelling too.

The sharks themselves are seen sufficient with out ever being so in your face that you would be able to see the pixels, and they seem like a mixture of each the sensible and the digital (albeit extra of the latter than the previous). They’re efficient at the same time as Fäh makes use of them a bit too typically for soar scares with loud stingers, they usually function enjoyable exclamation marks on the movie’s numerous suspense scenes. Mayson’s script does a superb job maintaining these sequences coming, and it’s not at all times clear which characters, if any, will reside to breath contemporary air once more.

Finances prevents issues from ever feeling massive or grand, however cinematographer Andrew Rodger makes the a lot of the airplane’s claustrophobic inside. We will really feel the oxygen rising stale, sense the concern overcoming the rational, and the rising water continues to depart extra room for uninvited friends. It’s a ticking clock thriller, of kinds, with hungry sharks representing the minute hand, and even when it by no means soars it strikes fairly slickly by means of the water.

Look, No Manner Up is a low price range, direct-to-video catastrophe thriller, so should you “want” studio budgets and precision in an effort to purchase on this isn’t the airplane experience for you. Gradual your beans, although, and settle in for an entertaining B-movie a few group of individuals dealing with a lethal however ridiculous predicament, and also you gained’t be upset.

Rob Hunter has been writing for Movie Faculty Rejects since earlier than you have been born, which is bizarre seeing as he is so rattling younger. He is our Chief Movie Critic and Affiliate Editor and lists ‘Broadcast Information’ as his favourite movie of all time. Be at liberty to say hello should you see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.