‘Fear runs deep’
Meg 2: The Trench is a 2023 action horror film about a research team facing multiple threats while exploring the depths of the ocean The movie is a sequel to The Meg (2018), clearly.
Directed by Ben Wheatley (In the Earth; Rebecca; High-Rise; Kill List; Sightseers)) from a screenplay co-written by Dean Georgaris, Erich Hoeber and Jon Hoeber, based on characters created by Steve Alten. Produced by Belle Avery, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Cliff Lanning. Executive Randy Greenberg and Catherine Xujun Ying.
The movie stars Jason Statham, Cliff Curtis, Sienna Guillory, Melissanthi Mahut, Skyler Samuels, Shuya Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Jing Wu, Whoopie, Van Raam, Ron Smoorenburg, Able Wanamakok, Billy Clements and Ray Strachan.
Plot:
We go back to Mana One, where Jonas is now an eco-terrorist and the custodian of Meiying, who is also joined by Jiuming, who is Meiying’s uncle and is the inventor of a type of exo-suit that will allow them to explore the trench under the thermal cloud, the home of the Meg.
As expected, they dive down past the thermal cloud, but Jiuming’s pet Meg Haiqi has gotten free, and also joins them on their journey. While in the Trench, they notice there is a base station there, and there are some nefarious looking characters who are mining for rare earth minerals.
A scuffle ensues, resulting in an explosion that causes a hole to be torn in the thermal cloud, allowing multiple Megs and other creatures to breach the surface
It’s now a race against time to stop the megs and other creatures before they cause chaos on Fun Island.
Our review:
First up, it’s kind of a fun movie and the visual effects are pretty damn good. Don’t let anyone tell you any different, and with the exception of a few weird things like the mega-octopus, everything looks pretty damn good.
However, I signed up to watch a monster film about sharks, not a film about cartoon character bad guys who are mining the deep ocean for rare earth minerals to sell for billions of dollars. And I didn’t sign up for an action film either. The movie starts with a stupid scene on a ship with all this ridiculous fighting that seems out of character for Jonas and then ends up with a shoot-out that looks even more out of place for the characters. It’s like Statham has looked at his role in Wrath of Man and Wu Jing looked at his role as Wolf Warrior and they’ve brought it into this movie, forgetting that the audience is here for the damn sharks.
This feels very much like a Chinese monster movie. And while they are fun, they’re always heavy-handed with their social messages, and it’s weird to see a movie like this – and I acknowledge it’s a co-production – with these environmental messages. That’s the Chinese government’s fingerprint all over this movie, and it’s clear that the producers were cool to allow it to happen.
What’s worse is that there is a perfectly good subplot here that this movie should have been about – and that is Meg’s mating scene. Firstly, whoever built the tank to hold the captive Haiqi Meg should be fired. Who builds a waste hatch in a shark enclosure the same size, or bigger than the damn shark it is holding? Of course, it was going to break out. Then, who writes a subplot about potential shark mating and then decides the movie should have a series of bad guys and lots of action, completely forgetting about the sharks? And the sharks go missing for huge chunks of this film.
The first Meg was fun because it was about Man vs. Shark – but Meg 2 is about Man vs. Evil Man who likes to mine, oh and then there are some sharks. And a damn octopus. Where did the octopus come from?
In order to complete the compliment sandwich, I would like to mention that I appreciated the little call back to the first movie with Pippin the small dog and the bride who panics over him. For some reason, she is now husbandless. Also, why does this movie end in a similar location to the first movie? The first movie had the tourist location of Sanya Island, and this one ends on Fun Island.
So, with a heavy heart, I struggle to go beyond 2 stars. And I really wanted to give it more and not be one of those negative Nancy YouTube reviews, but the movie is what it is. It’s a Chinese action movie masquerading as a shark film, completely by accident, starring the hottest actor in China with thankfully complimented with pretty damn good visual effects. What a shame, because I wanted a shark movie. I wanted The Meg but more.
The Arty Dans, MOVIES and MANIA
Other reviews:
” …the last part of the film finally keeps all the promises of the trailer: the devastation of “Fun Island”, a tourist paradise for wealthy Chinese, by three megalodons, a kraken and some prehistoric and carnivorous salamanders, is one of the most beautiful WTF moments of this year 2023, and finally raises the energy in the room.” Benzine [translated from French]
“Meg 2: The Trench is messy in execution and almost exhausting in how much gets packed into the runtime without a second wasted. The humor is the precise type of cheese that’ll amuse you or drive you nuts. And yet, it’s a blast […] It’s dumb and it knows it.” 3 out of 5, Bloody Disgusting
“The climactic finale is equivalent to anything-goes, self-aware fun that is best to leave your brains at the door and just enjoy the show. No doubt that Meg 2: The Trench has plenty of entertaining moments but it’s not enough to overcome most of the flaws, namely the bloated runtime and a subplot that overstays its welcome.” 5.5 out of 10, Fiction Horizon
“Meg 2: The Trench is a major departure from the first film via a mediocre script, action, and CGI presentation. The Meg, which can entertain and surprise through its crazy actions, is no longer seen in the sequels. Although not considered a great film, The Meg could record itself as one of the highest-grossing shark films ever. In this tough time for box-office films lately, Meg 2 is about likely to fall.” Montase Film
“Engaging in equal measure of thrills and silliness (one memorable shot gives viewers a Meg’s tonsil perspective on the chomp-‘em-up action) it’s a thoroughly enjoyable creature feature rampage peppered with some fine gags and a veritable Sharknado of fang-defying heroism. Wheatley proves himself an instant master of CGI monster movie mayhem here, but by piling it on so relentlessly thick he all but admits defeat in his initial attempts to give the franchise any believable depths.” 3 out of 5, NME
“Despite its knowing references to Jaws, Jurassic Park and dozens of other beloved ’80s animal-film favourites, Meg 2 is a disappointingly bloodless affair. A tedious tale of corporate greed takes up much of the runtime, there is a lack of bloody carnage – and lead Jason Statham looks tired or bored most of the time.” South China Morning Post
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