THE DEEP ONES (2020) Reviews, trailer and release news

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The Deep Ones is a 2020 American horror film in which a couple rent a beach home only to discover weird neighbours and bizarre occurrences. They soon discover to be in the grips of a mysterious cult and their ancient sea god in this Lovecraftian take on Rosemary’s Baby.

Written and directed by Chad Ferrin (Exorcism at 60,000 Feet; The Chair; Someone’s Knocking at the Door; Easter Bunny Kill! Kill!), the Crappy World Films-Laurelwood Pictures movie stars Jackie Debatin, Johann Urb, Kelli Maroney (Gila!; Chopping Mall; Night of the Comet) and Nicolas Coster.

Behind the scenes, Ferrin is joined by producers Gina La Piana, Robert Miano and Jeff Olan, composer Richard Band (Re-Animator, From Beyond), director of photography Jeff Billings, makeup effects artist Jim Ojala (Deadgirl, Strange Nature) with key art by Nenad Gucunja.

“H.P. Lovecraft must be smiling down on us,” Ferrin shared, “as this has been the most blessed film experience of my twenty-five years of doing what I love. And I thank the cast and crew from the bottom of my heart for going above and beyond all expectations.”

Plot:

After suffering an untimely loss, Alex (La Piana) and her husband Petri (Urb) visit California for a much-needed break from reality. At an unassuming rental, they meet the mysterious Russell Marsh (Miano). Marsh introduces them to the oddly enthusiastic locals, fixes them a lavish meal and invites them out on his luxury boat. Little do they know that beneath Mr Marsh’s thin veneer of avuncular charm lurks a dark devotion to an archaic evil…

Release:

The Deep Ones is released by 123 Go Films and Distribution Solutions on Digital and DVD on June 15, 2021. Special features:

Behind-the-scenes featurette
Grimmfest featurette
Deleted scenes

Reviews:

“Ultimately, The Deep Ones sets itself up well but then doesn’t really know where to go with it. The threat from the community is pretty much announced in the first twenty minutes, and with a small budget, there was never going to be a final reel set piece. It’s a watchable enough film, but not much more.” Bloody Flicks

“It does have a defiantly retro man-in-a-monster-suit that might make some laugh, but I found it more endearing than any CGI effort. Otherwise, a sunny coastal setting, a just-less-than-serious feel and a decent cast make for an enjoyable watch that doesn’t outstay its welcome, even if it’s unlikely to leave a real dent.” Buck Theorum’s Hang-Out

“Chad Ferrin has not only crafted a wonderful story but has also taken that story and made it into an enticing, film that drags you in and keeps you there, long after the end credits have rolled. If you arent familiar with any of the works by HP Lovecraft, then this would be a perfect entry point…” From Page 2 Screen

“Ferrin’s script has plenty of intentional humor and a dash of the absurd. From the name-checking earlier in this review, potential viewers can guess that many elements feel familiar and even predictable, but it is sheer looniness and outrageousness that make The Deep Ones work.” Horror Fuel

“It is a well-told story that goes full circle with the ending explaining the opening sequence and it does have a degree of creepiness to it. Not a great deal of gore but that does not mean it doesn’t contain some relatively disturbing scenes and for its low budget the monsters don’t look that bad. An interesting take on the subject…” HorrorScreams VideoVault

“The latterday Innsmouth folk are disturbing with a comic edge, including a female doctor played by a man in drag (Ferrin veteran Timothy Muskatell) and a robed elder (TV soap veteran Nicolas Coster) who is so blandly paternal that he’s a hoot. The Deep Ones themselves appear modelled on the well-remembered aquatics of Humanoids From the Deep, Island of the Mutations or even The Horror of Party Beach…” The Kim Newman Web Site

The Deep Ones is a pleasant time passer. Cinematography is interesting and their lots to raise one weirded-out eyebrow to. It’s always great to see a new way for tentacles to find their way out of infected humans and into others. Here is no different. Despite the predictability of the narrative, it’s an easy watch and well put together.” Mother of Movies

” …we see a lot of tentacles, in both terrifying and phallic ways – with the odd appearance of a fish man who looks remarkably similar (like really similar) to those in Charlie Steeds film The Barge People; and a climax that unleashes Dagon himself! Other than that we get a lot of cult members stood around looking creepy and a bucket-load of atmosphere that really helps build the tension.” Nerdly

“If you have any affection for cheesy horror tropes, naff post-credits scenes, nudity, or white-robed cults, you’ll be right at home with The Deep Ones. There are even tentacles and a creature that’s swum straight from Innsmouth. But they look so damned plastic!” Ready Steady Cut!

“Sometimes it wanted to be a serious thriller, and other times a cartoonish sketch. It never gets to the point of being a horror-comedy, but nobody would mistake this as an art-house slow-burn film, either. Chad Ferrin cut his teeth at Troma and Crappy World Films, directing such films as The Ghouls and Easter Bunny Kill! Kill! so this represents a step up in quality from his early work for sure.” The Scariest Things

“While not based on any one work of H.P. Lovecraft but rather the writer’s complex story-spanning mythology as such, The Dead Ones really does the writer justice in spirit, putting an emphasis on an atmosphere of unease, archaic Gods and cults, reptilian creatures and tentacles. And the film spins a really nice yarn tieing all of this together, that doesn’t give away too much too soon and for the most favours mood over spectacle.” Search My Trash

“Ferrin has taken Lovecraft’s ‘The Shadow Over Innsmouth’ and added in a dose of Rosemary’s Baby, and as Alex’s friend Deb (Jackie Debatin) mentions, another Ira Levin book, The Stepford Wives. Then he seasoned it with some Humanoids from the Deep. With a mix like that The Deep Ones certainly isn’t going to be boring.” Voices from the Balcony

“The silliness and the occasional effective scare holds the attention, and the energy levels of the cast – who one suspects are having a ball – translates into an infectious enthusiasm. It’s not a groundbreaking horror movie, nor the peon to Lovecraft his devotees may be craving, but as an heir to the B-movies of previous decades, this is a winner.” VODzilla

Cast and characters:

Jackie Debatin … Deb
Johann Urb … Petri
Kelli Maroney … Ambrose Zadok
Nicolas Coster … Finley
Jon Mack … Mother
Robert Miano … Russel Marsh
Gina La Piana … Alex
Rachel Pringle … Mandy
Silvia Spross … Ingrid Krauer
Robert Rhine … Buck ‘Cabby’ Hooper
Richard Pate … Obed Rayburn
Kurt Carley … Dagon
Suzanne Sumner Ferry … Gaza
Bulet Rush … Reeves
Hengi Hawk … Siren
Timothy Muskatell … Doctor Gene Rayburn
Mikaya Fisher … Abgal
Zebadiah DeVane … Flagg
Michael Schefano … Carl
Jerry Irons … Legrasse
McKenna Ferry … Emily Rayburn
Kalvis Kraemer … Barlow
Chloe Stallings … Imp
Gerry Karr … Hodges

Notes:

We initially posted about The Deep Ones way back on February 17, 2020.

Trailer:

Clip:

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