Summary
Under Paris (original French title: Sous la Seine) is an enthralling action and horror movie that combines the themes of ecological horrors and disaster shark films. The film was directed by Xavier Gens, whose storyline centers on a sinister threat that lurks under one of the world’s landmark cities not in the ocean, but in the waters of Seine River in Paris.
The film opens with the character Sophia Assalas, a marine biologist, tracking a shortfin mako shark named Lilith in the Pacific Ocean. Along with her team, they are attempting to gather a data sample from this unusual shark, which includes a blood sample from Lilith. Unfortunately, expedition everything goes wrong. Not only does Lilith turn out to be aggressive, she viciously attacks the crew, resulting in the death of many team members, including Sophia’s husband, Chris. Although she survives, the mental trauma means she must take a permanent leave from her work. It has now been three years since this incident. Sophia now works in a Paris aquarium, far away from the dangers of marine research. There, she is approached by Mika, a devoted, young environmentalist, who claims to have evidence that Lilith may somehow be swimming in the Seine River. At first, Mika’s claims seem preposterous, as many people know sharks very rarely, if ever, inhabit freshwater rivers. But after analyzing the signal from the tracker, she knows the shark’s information is accurate and worse, something far more sinister is at play.
Sophia’s apprehensions seemingly lacked justification until researchers revealed something truly disturbing: Lilith had evolved to freshwater environments, a feat once thought impossible, and worse — had begun asexual reproduction. Her offspring were grotesquely violent and thrived deep within the Seine’s aquatic environment, teeming beneath the bustling city of Paris.
With Paris set to host the World Triathlon Championships, the city is electrified. As thousands of athletes prepare to swim in a predetermined section of the Seine, city officials, along with their egotistical mayor, disregard all cautionary suggestions from Sophia and Mika, gaining the ‘hands-off’ approach they so badly coveted.
With the triathlon underway, the spectators’ worst fears materialize as chaos ensues. Swimmers are mercilessly slaughtered and the Seine turns into a river of blood as all law enforcement and marine units are put into emergency mode. Adil, the commander of the river police, is specialized in maintaining order during such events, but the scale of this madness seems to be beyond his expertise.
To quell the chaos, a dedicated team attempts to eliminate Lilith and her spawn by detonating aged WWII bombs in the river. However, it is their attempts that paradoxically result in the flooding of Paris. In the movie’s last shocking moment, we see the city submerged completely, with rampant shark infestations accelerating, marking what appears to be the onset of a global catastrophe.
Cast & Crew
Sofia Assalas is Bérénice Bejo as a marine biologist who suffers from the trauma of an internal battle. Sophia’s life-changing struggles are something relatable to many. Bejo breathes life into her character with passion and a great deal of strength.
Nassim plays commander Adil, who is equally practical and courageous, serving as the head of the Seine River police. He provides a balance to the more scientifically minded view of Sophia’s action-oriented perspective.
Léa Léviant bestows upon Mika the traits of an idealistic activist who, as the plot unfolds, becomes pivotal to it. She possesses youthful exuberance which, when combined with experience, adds depth and tempered reasoning to her rapport with Sophia.
In the role of the politically motivated Parisian Mayor, Anne Marivin embodies a character whose interests conflict with public safety. This representation illustrates the political apathy chronicled by disaster movie filmmakers.
The diverse ensemble reflects the affected population, together with the city emergency staff, including Sandra Parfait as Caro, Aksel Üstün as Nils, Aurélia Petit as Angèle, Marvin Dubart as Markus, Daouda Keita as Léopold, and Ibrahima Ba as Adama, who provide various perspectives.
As a major horror and action cinema director, Gens’ fast-paced editing style is well known for building up suspense and making social statements concerning ecological disasters (Frontier(s), The Divide)).
Gens’ latest works demonstrates the distinctive agenda merger of horror, sci-fi, and environmental advocacy co-authored with Yannick Dahan, Maud Heywang, Yaël Langmann, Olivier Torres; in which all shared the same vision as writers for the film’s screenplay.
Cinematographer Massart Nicolas goes beyond capturing beauty to depict Paris in tranquil, slow-motion, shattered order. As the film progresses, the river’s personality becomes more pronounced.
D’Amario, Cortés, and Rigaudière’s work on the film’s score greatly enhances its overall impact, and the film’s music is enriched by their tense, pulsating compositions.
Critiques and Reception
Under Paris scored 5.2 out of 10 on Imdb. Reviews seem to be mixed. Some viewers appear to appreciate the film’s unique approach to the shark genre. They note its frenzied pacing and its concern for environmental issues. Others, however, criticize the film for its unscientific inaccuracies, overused cliches, and an overblown third act.
Critics seem to agree that the film’s visual effects and performances, especially Bejo’s emotionally restrained portrayal of the lead, were remarkably grounded. Still, the disaster epic turn of the feature creature—mass flooding and widespread destruction—has proven contentious.
Under Paris, despite these filmic flaws, maintains a certain peculiar level of originality when compared with other shark thrillers. This film transports the horror away from the beaches and open sea to an old urban setting. The shift is not merely geographical, but thematic; it illustrates how humanity’s tampering with nature can have dire consequences, even in the most civilized locations.
Conclusion
Under Paris is an audacious addition to the contemporary eco-horror genre. Attempting to intertwine a narrative grappling with climate change and sprawling environmental issues, the film attempts to integrate thrills with a message and features a unique setting paired with a lead performance by Bérénice Bejo. While not completely polished, the film offers plenty for disaster and creature feature devotees to relish.
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