Prime Video's new shark movie, "The Devil's Mouth," directed by Jeff Wadlow, offers a surprisingly deep dive into the dynamics of a toxic, codependent friendship, set against the backdrop of a deadly encounter with a bull shark. The film stars Lana Condor as Max and Kathryn Newton as Sara, two best friends whose vacation in Thailand takes a terrifying turn.
Long before the predatory shark enters the picture, the tension between Max and Sara simmers. Max, an extroverted "CEO of Fun," and Sara, a more introverted and people-pleasing individual, share a complex history. Max played a crucial role in Sara's life after the death of her father, acting as a confidante and protector, which has fostered a bond that is both sustaining and suffocating. As they embark on a post-college trip with friends, their intertwined past and present struggles form the core of the narrative. The original script, "Apex," featured a frenemy dynamic within a love triangle and was set in Mexico, suggesting that "The Devil's Mouth" uses its Thai setting primarily as an exotic locale.
Condor delivers a compelling performance as Max, portraying her as bossy and selfish yet never so monstrous that Sara's devotion becomes unbelievable. Newton, on the other hand, offers a quieter portrayal of Sara, initially appearing as a meek wallflower. However, as the group ventures into a freshwater cave system where a bull shark has been unleashed, Sara’s reserved demeanor gives way to a surprising level of headstrong efficiency and resilience.
Wadlow, known for high-concept genre films, adeptly stages the underwater horror within the labyrinthine caves. The film overcomes the potential pitfall of a monotonous setting by using clever visual cues, including an overlay of the cave map, to maintain clarity of the characters' locations as they navigate the treacherous environment. This approach helps avoid the common pitfall of confusion in such settings.
While "The Devil's Mouth" delivers the expected shark thriller elements, including sudden attacks and harrowing escapes, its true strength lies in its exploration of the relationship between Max and Sara. The film posits that toxic friendships can be as terrifying as a hungry bull shark, culminating in a finale that provides a satisfyingly nasty payoff characteristic of the genre. "The Devil's Mouth" is now available for streaming on Prime Video.