For everyone who has ever watched a movie, especially one that features sharks, and has felt goosebumps because of a missing shark scene, Yes, look no further, this movie, No Way Up, directed by Claudio Fah, does put your heart into suspense. Of course, it’s not as iconic as Jaws by Steven Spielberg or the US Shot Meg but it still is not a boring experience for thriller enthusiasts.
The movie was released in February 2024 in the UK and the US and the one hour and 30 minutes film features a cast that includes Sophie McIntosh, Will Attenborough, Grace Nettle, and more.
Most of you would know about the bird strikes on planes, which is news we hear quite often, but has a story been created about sharks striking a plane? In No Way Up, such a hysterical scenario ensues as sharks hijack a plane. It begins with an ordinary flight from LA to Cabo with few passengers onboard.
However, right after the flight took off, trouble began as birds hit into the propeller of the fitted engine, resulting in it bursting and causing quitea bit of damage to the aircraft. The airplane went down to the Pacific Ocean and a few people survived, but because of sharks in the water, their span of breath and survival was limited.
In an unending deadlock, they encounter one of the most manic attempts at survival. To know their fate, you will have to feel the tension as it unfolds in the VOD release.
Sharknado’s die-hard fans would certainly find No Way Up a worthy part of the collection but it’s not particularly a game changer. The movie has maintained its steady flow as we jump from one harrowing moment to another, the climax between Ava and the shark being one of the highlights of the feature.
The emotional aspect of the story is what warms the viewer to the characters, a point that appears to be missing when it comes to other disaster and survival thrillers like this one.
When it comes to story-telling which can move the audience, two types come to the top. The first are the stories that bring out tears as the characters go through excruciating pain, and the second are those that make the viewers break into joyous tears. Both are very powerful and capable of creating a great impact. In No Way Up, thrill is in plenty and while it stays through the film, emotional attachment to the characters is lost.
No Way Up fails to develop the viewers’ connection with the characters due to the lack of time and depth. However, the relationship between Ava (Sophie McIntosh) and Rosa (Grace Nettle) provides some emotional engagement in an otherwise action-packed narrative and is one of the only emotional moments worth mentioning.
Moreover, in addition to its absence of emotional layers, No Way Up has significant shortcomings regarding the story arc’s advancement. The governor’s daughter is a survivor, and this is quite a dramatic point supporting the plot, but especially when it comes to the underwater rescue parts, much stronger than what we see here, but even this one is rather weak and captures little attention.
Likewise, and just as above, a story involving the clash of a member of the cabin crew with a passenger is yet another chance wasted for something above the norm. While the elements mentioned above had all the qualities to be very effective, they are not sufficiently developed or in layman’s terms, they are half-baked.
The storytelling felt a bit too rushed as the film runs for only a short period and there was little effort put into the development of the characters and where they are heading to.
No Way Up’s technical features are quite decent considering it’s meant to be an indie film. The clock voicing ‘tik tik’ is very useful in raising the suspense level during the underwater rescue attempts. Lastly, low-light underwater photography enhances the thrill of the film.
On the flip side, the premise of this movie is interesting, but it is poorly executed. It is obvious that there was room for a more compelling tale yet this, along with many others, will most likely leave the viewers slightly dissatisfied after the initial spark.
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