The Deep Ones (2020) User Reviews

Lots of bad acting & lip fillers

[kay-212-426616 · 4/10 · 1 February 2021]

As a big H.P. Lovecraft fan, I'm always delighted to discover new movies that are based on his stories, especially when it comes to the Cthulhu Mythos.

And because I'm such a fan, I'm willing to accept alot of shortcomings, but I'm afraid this film just doesn't offer anything worthwhile.

The acting is mostly bad, only Robert Miano stands out with a solid performance. A big problem is the main cast, which is just not good and not very likeable. I had a hard time sitting through the whole movie, waiting for some Lovecraftian Horror, that just never came. And just flailing tentacles around doesn't do the trick.

And if you're into blood and gore - too bad, because there's barely anything of it.

The production value itself was okay, the film didn't look like a low budget flick most of the time, even though some practical effects and masks looked rather cheap.

Long story short - I wouldn't recommend this movie, not even for Lovecraft and Cthulhu fans. Just go and watch "Dagon" instead!

Yep, 5 out of 10

[chelmold · 4/10 · 9 October 2020]

It's hard to know whether to trust horror movies ratings because they're always skewed by joyless judgmental jerks who are like "oh my gawd, who would ever want to watch this type of garbage!" Well... lots of people. But 5/10 seems right, this is like mediocre low budget, like Hallmark channel quality (if they had Hallmark Horror.)

The acting for the most part is pretty bad. The blonde friend is great though. There were a few things I liked. There are a bunch of old tv references (Three's Company, Andy Griffith, I Love Lucy). One character gives off strong Mrs. Doubtfire vibes. And best of all, the central relationship reminded me a ton of Jesse and Darcey from 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days.

Worth a watch? Ehh... probably only if you are into low budget horror.

Nah, didn't have that particular sense of cosmic dread to it...

[paul_haakonsen · 3/10 · 15 June 2021]

I stumbled upon the 2020 movie adaptation of a classic H. P. Lovecraft tale titled "The Deep Ones" in 2021. I must admit that I was initially thrilled to find a movie such as this, but my hopes and expectations were immediately lowered, because many of the previous movie adaptations of Lovecraft's works have been dubious at best.

And the 2020 movie "The Deep Ones" from writer and director Chad Ferrin wasn't a movie to break the slump of less than mediocre movie adaptions of Lovecraft's stories. Sure, there were definitely Lovecraftian elements here and it was based on a Lovecraft story, but writer and director Chad Ferrin just didn't capture that essence that permeates all Lovecraft's writings, that particular sense of cosmic dread and sense of hopelessness.

Sure, the movie was watchable, but it just didn't capture the key element that defines the Cthulhu mythos. I managed to sit through "The Deep Ones", but I was hardly entertained, and I can in all honesty say that this is not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time, nor is it a movie that I would recommend fans of Lovecraft's writing to rush out and get their hands on.

For me, "The Deep Ones" snuck in under the radar, and the movie will just as quietly and unnoticeably fade into oblivion for me. This wasn't a groundbreaking or defining moment in Lovecraftian movie adaptations.

The acting in the movie was actually good enough, and I do enjoy the fact that I am presented with a cast ensemble that I am not previously familiar with. It was just a real shame that the actors and actresses didn't have much of anything to work with here.

My rating of "The Deep Ones" lands on a shallow three out of ten stars. Not really an outstanding foray into the Cthulhu mythos.

Cthulhu and Dagon are not interchangeable

[ravencorinncarluk · 2/10 · 17 June 2021]

This could have been a mostly mediocre movie that killed the time but was never anything special. I liked the bones of the concept, and taking on a more female cosmic fear of being mother to monsters.

But the score irredeemably dropped by mixing up the mythos AND by having a book of Lovecraft stories in the movie without explanation. Like, was Lovecraft actually a prophet and all these people clued into the truth via his writings? And since I was already mad at that, I was cheesed off that it was very obviously from the public library, but on the old man's shelf as if it were a collectible.

The acting is bad, but about on par with cheesy horror. The script certainly doesn't do them any favors, and the directing is mostly boring but then tries way too hard. The pacing is awful, and the 'creepiness' is from some flailing tentacles and over-the-top 'bizazrre' reactions. The practical Deep One effects on the community members - of which there were not enough to be properly inspired by Shadow Over Innsmouth - looked like they came from Spirit Halloween.

So, what would have normally been a merely lame movie is kind of an insult to the Lovecraft genre. Maybe the writers should have done more than skimmed the Wiki about the mythos to get their ideas.

Characters are too stupid. Rating is accurate.

[frankblack-79961 · 4/10 · 29 September 2021]

Besides the terrible acting, this hardly compares to Dagon or some of the previous Cthulu mythos movies. Lately there seems to be a number of these trying to cash in on this Lovecraft creation. Unfortunately none of them are any good.

Worse than Troll 2

[zgkluckman · 1/10 · 20 June 2021]

Let me start by saying, I am a pretty avid Lovecraft fan, and I own every movie even remotely based on his work (many of which are pretty bad, but I still find something to love in them) I also love bad/low budget horror. I'll watch Full Moon's entire catalog any day of the week. That said - I never thought I would see the day someone made a movie worse than Troll 2. But here it is. Honestly, this is so bad it upset me. The script is deeply insulting to H. P. Lovecraft's legacy and insulting to the intelligence of anyone watching this trash fire. Most of these actors couldn't pass acting school with a bribe. I wish I could say the worst thing about the script was how predictable it is (which it is), but there is so, so much worse than that going on here. Literally, the song "row your boat" is used as an evil chant by the cult members in the film. You know...."row, row, row your boat"....cause nothing is more chiling than bad actors singing a jingle randomly (it literally isn't even used for summoning or anything, they just start singing a round.... They name drop Cthulhu pointlessly at the beginning of the film while hypnotizing someone with a lighter, establishing themselves as a Cthulhu cult - a pointless scene which is thrown away almost immediately because (as anyone with a passing familiarity with Lovecraft knows), this is a Dagon story. The cast for some reason keeps making ahegao faces and going cross-eyed. Racial slurs? Yup. And Dagon when he appears is a 5'4 guy in a really bad kaiju outfit. The best makeup in the film is a "fish faced" person that I'm pretty sure was borrowed from the Barge People movie. (still no idea why its even in the film as that is one of many scenes that is just there and contributes nothing to the story. Listen, I want to say this is one of those movies that will have you laughing at how bad it is, but it's too boring to even pull that off. I do not have the words for how much I want to Thanos snap this movie out of existance.

Don't listen to anyone rating this above a 4.

[justybear96 · 2/10 · 6 October 2021]

This was complete and utter trash. Porn star level acting. Special effects that even the SyFy channel would be embarrassed to show on TV. Literally nothing redeemable in this "film". I manage a movie theater and somehow we were sent this to show to the public and literally every person walked out and or wanted a refund. Unless you go in knowing is a Z grade film you will not want to finish it.

HP Lovecraft wouldn't like this adaption at all

[dogma-53668 · 1/10 · 1 December 2021]

Starts off with nudity and that's never a good sign. Doesn't have the feel of Lovecraft, I've read the stories, I've seen most of the movies. People have a hard time transferring his works into a movie. This is no exception. Really is a waste of time and very disappointing. And I'm a big HP fan. Maybe someday somebody will understand Lovecraft's work enough that they can do a decent movie.

Horrible and boring.

[dore-jeff · 5 August 2021]

Badly written, badly acted, you name it and its bad in this movie. At some point during the filming I feel like someone would have raised the point that this movie was on-fire garbage and that all production should be stopped and all work prints destroyed for the good of humanity. Nope.

If you have a toilet, watch it flush for an hour and a half and you will come away with the exact same experience as this awful, awful film.

Tongue in Cheek Throwback to VHS era horror

[JungleJeffyGoesToMars · 7/10 · 24 October 2022]

Buying straight to video horror is a crap shoot. I got this solely because it was based on Lovecraft. The opening scene of a busty nude actress running from something on the beach in pitch darkness immediately tells you this is a throwback to exploitation films of old.

The movie has a sense of humor about itself, but such a sense of humor that devolves into parody. The acting is solid in an 80s straight to video way, and the whole thing is interesting enough to keep you there for ending, and weird enough to warrant a rewatch later. Recommended for anyone who enjoys 1970s exploitation or 1980s direct to video horror.

really bad

[jewelch · 2/10 · 14 August 2021]

This movie has absolutely nothing going for it. Terrible James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 8/13/2021.

Highly enjoyable for the type of film this is

[kannibalcorpsegrinder · 8/10 · 12 September 2022]

Taking a vacation at a beachside house, a couple initially writes off the hosts' friendly behavior as a weird form of hospitality until they realize that the behavior is actually a form of initiation to welcome them into a secret demon-worshipping cult for a strange water-going beast that lives nearby.

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable genre effort. The main facet to like with this one is the rather intriguing way this one winds up creating an eerie ambiance and unease with its setup. The trip to the coast and trying to get settled in while constantly having to deal with the owners' being around them doing whatever they want without much pushback in terms of overstepping boundaries makes for a rather fun setup. While bouncing back and forth between the idea of hospitality with the food preparations or just plain hanging out together while also pushing the boundaries with the video cameras secretly spying on them or offering hypnotic drugs to further entice them into their groups' way of thinking. This is a great way of getting things going with a great overall setup that introduces a subtly sinister air about the community that borders between friendly and sinister. This is then effectively paid off quite nicely with the actual means of their intentions being gradually revealed. The seduction attempts done on the husband where the owner and his wife try their tricks to great effect with the boat trip out to sea featuring the dream manipulation that shows something inhuman inside of her during the process to the behavioral changes they inflict upon him being away from her the entire time offers a rather intriguing sense of unease to the situation. With everything combining together to give her a sense that something isn't right in the community that's only fostered by the observations made with her friend and the continued change in behavior the husband exhibits, it all leads incredibly well into the final revelation about their intentions and plans. This comes together into a lot to really like about it. The film does have some issues with it. The main focus here is on the finale where it tends to become the wrong kind of film than it really should be. Rather than continue on the theme of the cult working with trickery and deception that adds a highly intriguing air to it, this section focuses instead on the outright reveal of the creature that the cult is praying to and what it looks like which feels completely out of tone compared to what we've seen until then. Not only that but by also seeing the whole act take place in an obvious if obscured manner, the whole sequence goes against the type and tone of the film established until then which was more cerebral and psychological. As well, that has some of the most obvious and underwhelming CGI for the creature which makes for a disappointing scene all around, making for the film's main flaws.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Full Nudity, Graphic Violence, and Rape.

Torturous Tentacles

[Pairic · 7/10 · 14 November 2020]

The Deep Ones: A contemporary adaptation of the H.P. Lovecraft classic though it has the feel of a 70s/80s horror flick due to the camera filter used AND the clothes of the Dagon worshipers. It's also reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby given the subject matter and the way some scenes are shot. A couple rent an AirBnB near Ventura Beach and are greeted by the owners, an odd but friendly duo. It soon transpires that the locals are part of a Cult, many being hybrids with gills etc, due to a long tradition of interbreeding with the Deep Ones. Drugs, hypnotism, tentacles attacks and manic chases are interspersed with rituals on the beach. Dagon himself isn't too convincing (might be homage to old films) but it's all good Lovecraftian fun. Written and Directed by Chad Ferrin. 7/10.

You've heard of B-Movies? This is a D

[jonwright-33504 · 3/10 · 20 June 2021]

The plot was solid, in concept, so that earned it a couple stars. This in the spirit of Innsmouth by all rights. The rest, however? Think four digit budget during quarantine at your uncle's beach house. Bad acting, bad effects, bad production... but hey if you're a HPL fan or into bad horror movies check it out.

Deep ones, more like paper thin.

[Stanlee107 · 2/10 · 4 July 2021]

This is a TV movie that goes against the golden rule and show nudity! This mixes Slither & The Faculty set in a backdrop of a beach holiday community with less interesting characters that are clichés & one dimensional. It offends my eyes that the bright scenes have a distracting yellow tinge of artificial lighting.

I agree with the reviewer that made the Mrs Doubtfire reference. The antagonist is so OTT that his so-called insidious presence amounts to unintentional comical wtf moments throughout. The hypnotic scenes are so funny & unbelievable that made me loose any interest in this. This is plain stupid and annoying from start to finish.

Terrible movie!

[bbttyb · 1/10 · 19 June 2021]

Terrible acting and terrible effects what a waste of time!

Lame presentation

[jmbovan-47-160173 · 4/10 · 7 February 2022]

So, this has decent production values, but the film falls into comical presentation with the actors. It follows well with the Lovecraft plot, but the fanaticism of the group turns the acting into pantomime. And unfortunately the film doesn't want to answer this or call into question the quality of acting. Harumph.

just one time do it nice for lovecrafts sake

[irmak-ozarslan · 26 September 2021]

I dont know why but all the time movies on Lovecrafts books are so trash. But this one also take the soul from it. It is like cheap hipster fantasy so called movie gathering or just to put it on a cv that the director could make a movie. Where is the terror and the suspense of Lovecraft? The mystery of the mythos and the unknown? I think this guy should change his genre of movies to porn or smthg he could do better in my opinion. I love thrashy movies generally but this is horrible.

best part of this movie is Kelli Maroney

[starbinks2 · 1/10 · 16 August 2021]

As the saying goes "everything else is cr**" ! A pleasant surprise to see Kelli Maroney in the movie, it saved it for me. The movie is really bad. If you are a scifi / horror movie watcher then don't waste your time. This is not even exciting in any way. Unfortunately this film is boring, unpleasant, difficult to like the main couple, and not a lot of fun to watch. Basically, it sucks. Although our kids are all adults, we still like to have dinner and a movie night at least once a week. We usually have a blast but nothing in this movie was good enough to make fun of ... nothing :(

Pathetic!

[VeganVag · 1/10 · 18 December 2021]

This was baaaaaaaddd, there's a scene of a man being drugged, then deep throated by a fetus creature tentacle hanging out of a pregnant woman?? I cringe now at the thought of watching anything from 2020-2021.. pathetic!

Vessels for the Old One

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 21 June 2021]

This Red Box Rental was inspired from "Rosemary's Baby." They even used the same type of camera lens (low budget). They mixed in a bag of Aleister Crowley and a bad rubber suit representation of the god Dagon. There is some humor in the film, but most of it was cut. The theremin adds to the eerie effect and humor.

Petri (Johann Urb ) and his wife Lexi (Gina La Piana) have a second honeymoon at the swanky Solar Beach Colony just a quick drive from Oxnard, perhaps the first joke. Gina stars in this film because she is supplying the location. (I watched the deleted scenes and the making of the film, DVD extras). They are being watched by a cult. Ingrid (Silvia Spross) who we see running naked across the beach in the opening scene is about to pop. They speak a foreign tongue, most likely made up, but use the word "Ea" which was Akkadian for the God Enki. Like Dagon they were water, fish, and fertility.

Low budget. Bad costume. Some campy acting by design. Timothy Muskatell was allowed to improvise. Also had a fire dance which also goes back to ancient times, but I will spare you.

Guide: F-word. Sex. FF Nudity (Gina La Piana, Silvia Spross )

Horrible

[Ablischke · 1/10 · 19 June 2021]

There's was not one minute of this movie that was bearable. Save your time.

Chad Ferrin fans (And I know you're out there) will not be disappointed.

[EDtwo-o-nine · 10/10 · 3 May 2021]

The Deep Ones has everything I want and expect in a Ferrin Flick. Raw aesthetics, cinema literacy and a fun and transgressive sensibility with a willingness to go over that stupid imaginary line they all talk about.

Another thing is that the cast is good, including some familiar genre faces.

In all, I felt, some great Polanski mixed with a few other spices and topped off with a heavy dose of Ferrin. (Plus some delicious nudity).

As far as criticisms, maybe the music is too conventional compared to the rest of the picture. (Though I liked the Ghost Writer sounding stuff over those very Polanski-feeling end credits). And I think it would've worked fine without those few CGI moments. But I'll live. Check it out.

If you love Lovecraft you'll enjoy The Deep Ones

[benprichardsdotcom · 7/10 · 28 January 2023]

This one is the most surprising film I've seen in a while. The script and screenplay is very good, really quite funny on occasion and actually it's quite refreshing watching a film where there's zero Hollywood politico bu115hit.

The film loosely follows a few of HP Lovecrafts novels and novellas. And sadly the antagonist Russel only mentions Cthulhu once, however this is definitely, one hundred percent a Lovecraft film - The Shadow over Innsmouth heavily influencing the screenplay. The film 'Get Out' arguably exerting a huge influence too.

I thought the casting was good. The special effects pretty naff, but endearing. The script is pretty good and the director got a lot out of the actors.

Oh, and finally, what a brilliant easter egg after the credits had rolled.

Love Lovecraft, Love the story, Low budget, Bad Script

[parsonwilks · 3/10 · 15 June 2021]

This movie's score actually dropped as Inreviewed it. Enough said.