Frédéric Jardin’s French SF film Survive presents an intriguing premise of survival and familial strength set against an apocalyptic backdrop but ultimately struggles with some implausible elements and uneven pacing. The film, which takes place after a catastrophic polarity reversal drains the world’s oceans, centres on Julia and her family as they fight for survival on a barren land teeming with predatory creatures. Though the narrative offers moments of suspense and horror in so solid popcorn horror fun.
One of the film’s strongest elements is the acting performances, particularly from Lise Delamare, who delivers as the teenage daughter navigating the chaos. Émilie Dequenne also shines as Julia, the protective mother whose determination and resourcefulness are central to the film’s emotional core. Andreas Pietschmann rounds out the cast effectively as the ‘voice of reason and authority.’ The chemistry among the family members contributes to the look and feel of the film with strong chemistry.
The cinematography by Pierre Aïm is visually striking, looking similar to the original Planet of the Apes, showcasing the Moroccan landscapes as an excellent stand-in for the dried seabed. Despite the film’s relatively low budget, the cinematography elevates it, lending an epic sense to the barren environment. The practical gore effects are also commendable, enhancing the visceral impact of the film. However, while the practical effects impress, the CGI-rendered creatures fall short.
“Julia and her family… fight for survival on a barren land teeming with predatory creatures.”
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 causing a polarity reversal and draining the oceans feels like a big ‘What If”. The film’s crab creatures manifesting from the abyss that is made ‘mad’ by oxygen put ‘claw in cheek’ or are a homage to Roger Corman’s Attack of the Crab Monsters.
The appearance of a mysterious character introduced but given no backstory feels like an unnecessary plot device. This “villain” appears almost arbitrarily, only to add a layer of danger without serving a meaningful role in the overall narrative. This lack of context builds the tension in a contrived way despite the moments of brutal death and the killing of an animal, which is not gratuitous.
The film’s pacing also suffers in places for all the wrong reasons. Although the family drama serves as a solid emotional backbone for the film, the overall 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. Some moments feature Subtitles, which may put some viewers off yet serve well, particularly in some of the more emotive scenes. Fans of creature features and survival films will probably appreciate the film’s dedication to gore and suspense. Despite its flaws, the film offers a visually stunning, albeit flawed, ride that will resonate with viewers who enjoy the genre’s penchant along with fast-paced storytelling.
"…practical gore effects are also commendable, enhancing the visceral impact of the film..."
