Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Searching for a cure to Alzheimer's disease, a group of scientists on an isolated research facility become the prey, as a trio of intelligent sharks fight back.

Director:

Renny Harlin

Writers:

Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers

Stars:

Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, Samuel L. Jackson

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Thomas Jane	...	Carter Blake
Saffron Burrows	...	Dr. Susan McAlester
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Russell Franklin
Jacqueline McKenzie	...	Janice Higgins
Michael Rapaport	...	Tom Scoggins
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Jim Whitlock
LL Cool J	...	Preacher
Aida Turturro	...	Brenda Kerns
Cristos	...	Boat Captain
Daniel Rey	...	Helicopter Pilot (as Daniel Bahimo Rey)
Valente Rodriguez	...	Helicopter Co-Pilot
Brent Roam	...	Helicopter Winch Operator
Eyal Podell	...	Boy #1
Erinn Bartlett	...	Girl #1
Dan Thiel	...	Boy #2

Storyline

A businessman sinks $200 million into a special project to help fight Alzheimer's disease. As part of this project, medical biologist Susan McAlester rather naughtily figures out a way to genetically enlarge shark brains, so that disease-battling enzymes can be harvested. However, the shark subjects become super smart and decide they don't much like being cooped up in pens and being stabbed with hypodermics, so they figure a way to break out and make for the open sea...

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Plot Keywords:

research | experiment | shark | alzheimer's disease | scientist | 

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Taglines:

Your worst fear is about to surface.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic shark attacks, and for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sam Jackson and Stellan Skarsgard have both appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

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Goofs

Towards the end of the movie when the carter, preacher, and Susan are about to make the long swim to the surface, right after the air tanks deploy, the first close up of Susan waiting for the others clearly shows Susan's head about a foot beneath the surface of the water, when they are supposed to be 60 feet under water.

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Quotes

Russell Franklin: Was that a goddamn shark broke through that door?
Carter Blake: I expect so.
Russell Franklin: You expect so? Huh. Well, well, well. Am I the only asshole down here who thinks that a tad bit odd?
Russell Franklin: It can do that? Bust through a steel door?

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Crazy Credits

Members of the shark effects team have shark-related nicknames, for example, Peter 'GreatWhite' Smith.

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Alternate Versions

SPOILER:In a test screening one month before the film's opening, the ending had Susan (Saffron Burrows) escaping the shark at the end and saving the day with the spear gun. Audiences booed that ending, and sure enough, it came out with Susan getting eaten and Preacher (LL Cool J) saving the day. You can actually tell that some of the final shots were three-shots, with empty space where Burrows would have been. Sometimes Thomas Jane's eye-line looks like it should go to her. She's been digitally erased.

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Connections

Referenced in Everything Wrong with...: Everything Wrong with The Meg in 16 Minutes or Less (2018)

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Soundtracks

I Can See Clearly Now
Written by Johnny Nash
Performed by Johnny Nash
Courtesy of Epic Records and Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Pretty Good Movie

I thought Deep Blue Sea was one of the best shark movies created. I was very fascinated by the scientific part of the movie. The basis wasn't just on terror and blood. I think there's a real personal side to it for the lead character. She had watched her father suffer for years, and that drive and desire to prevent the same thing from happening to so many others gave the movie the obsession that it had. I found it refreshing that this movie had a woman obsessed with helping others instead of some risqué character obsessed with sex or violence. However, the other characters were not introduced to well. You never really found out anything about them. There were some suggestive hints about Carter having a background, but it was as if the movie left you hanging, or you got to make up whatever happened yourself.

There were some bad points as well. Firstly, the relationships between the characters weren't consistent. One minute, it would seem that certain characters were just acquaintances or co-workers, and the next, they seemed to be such close friends. Though, I suppose a tragedy like that would have that effect on people. The other fact that gets me every time I watch the movie is how many times Carter falls down! Yes, sometimes it's unavoidable, but then, others, you can tell he randomly jumps and slides away. Every time they try to do anything, Carter is falling down. Also, what gets to me each time I see the movie is when the stretcher hits the window. All the cast members stand there watching. I know that if I were the room and that first chunk of glass had flown from the window, I wouldn't wait and see what happens next--I would have been running for the door long before they did.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

28 July 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deep Blue Sea

Filming Locations:

Fox Baja Studios, Rosarito, Baja California Norte, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,107,643, 1 August 1999

Gross USA:

$73,648,142

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$164,648,142

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures, Groucho III Film Partnership

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1