Director Frédéric Jardin’s Survive, written by Alexandre Coquelle and Mathieu Oullion, presents an intriguing premise of survival and familial strength set against an apocalyptic backdrop. The story centers on doctor Julia (Émilie Dequenne), husband Tom (Andreas Pietschmann), and their children Cassie (Lisa Delamar), and Tom (Lucas Ebel). They are travelling via boat to celebrate the boy’s thirteenth birthday, when whirlpools and other strange happenings befall them. Soon, creatures from the ocean deep threaten the family’s survival.
The narrative offers plenty of moments of suspense and horror in a popcorn-fun fashion. Still, the film ultimately struggles with some implausible elements and uneven pacing. However, the strongest element is the acting. Delamar, in particular, delivers as the teenage daughter navigating the chaos. Dequenne also shines, projecting protectiveness, determination, and resourcefulness, which are central to the emotional core. Pietschmann effectively comes across as the voice of reason with a calm way of speaking. The chemistry among the family members is strong and sells these characters as a close-knit group in over their head.
Pierre Aïm’s visually striking cinematography makes Survive appear similar to the original Planet of the Apes. The Moroccan landscapes shown off are beautifully vibrant to behold. Despite the relatively low budget, the cinematography elevates everything, lending an epic sense to the barren environment. The practical gore effects are also commendable, enhancing the visceral impact of the film.
“…creatures from the ocean deep threaten the family’s survival.”
However, while the practical effects impress, the CGI-rendered creatures fall short. The crab creatures manifesting from the abyss being mad by oxygen put “claw in cheek” are a fun homage to Roger Corman’s Attack of the Crab Monsters. But they also look like they could come from that film, which isn’t exactly a compliment.
Survive falters with a screenplay that takes liberties with scientific principles. While this is not unusual in genre films, the premise of a catastrophic event such as this feels implausible. The appearance of a mysterious character who’s given no backstory feels like an unnecessary plot device. This “villain” appears arbitrarily, only to add a layer of danger without serving a meaningful role in the narrative. This lack of context builds the tension in a contrived way. The pacing also suffers in places for all the wrong reasons. Although the family drama serves as a solid emotional backbone, the plot loses momentum in parts as it gets bogged down by moments that do little to further the narrative, like the absent backstory of the people who live in containers that appear only as crab fodder.
Survive presents an ambitious attempt at blending family drama with survival horror, drawing inspiration from classic adventure pictures like Mysterious Island, In Search of the Castaways, and Lost in Space. Fans of creature features and survival films will appreciate the dedication to gore and suspense. Despite flaws, Jardin offers a visually stunning, albeit flawed, ride that will resonate with viewers who enjoy the genre’s penchant for fast-paced storytelling and crazy monsters.
"…the practical gore effects are also commendable, enhancing the visceral impact of the film."
