The 2026 shark-movie feeding frenzy has produced a lot of chum that frankly stinks like fish left out in the sun. But every once in a while, a thriller cuts through the murky waters and actually delivers. Enter Above and Below, a pulse-pounding, blood-soaked survival feature that officially restores faith in the subgenre.
Directed by action veteran Jesse V. Johnson (Avengement, Savage Dog) from a script by Tony Giordano, this high-octane nightmare doesn’t hold back.
Cocaine, Cages, and Apex Predators
The setup is a classic recipe for vacation catastrophe. Five friends head off for a bucket-list shark-cage dive, only for their excursion to derail when they spot a massive stash of cartel cocaine. Before they can even process the multi-million-dollar discovery, the owners of the shipment pull up above.
Trapped inside a steel cage, Tatiana and Kaley are handed a savage ultimatum by the cartel: Retrieve the sunken bag of drugs, or take a bullet on the spot. What follows is a relentless, multi-front gauntlet. They must navigate circling Great Whites, vanishing oxygen tanks, and trigger-happy killers watching their every move from the surface.
Action Royalty at the Helm, Heart on the Screen
Jesse V. Johnson’s extensive background in hard-hitting action cinema makes him the ideal captain for this ship. He masterfully balances pure creature-feature terror with a grounded, believable narrative that keeps the tension coiled tight from start to finish.
At the center of the chaos is Laura Marano (The Royal Treatment, Saving Zoe), who delivers a standout, career-defining performance. Marano evolves from a terrified tourist into a fierce, resourceful badass, all while keeping her character emotionally grounded and genuine. It’s the exact kind of sharp, resilient heroine the genre needs more of.
During my recent conversation with both Johnson and Marano, their passion for the project was undeniable. We took a deep dive into the unique challenges of filming underwater, crafting practical tension, and pushing the cast’s physical limits.
If you’ve been burned by bad shark movies this year, do yourself a favor and dive into this one. Check out my interview with the director and star below, read the review, and catch Above and Below on VOD on August 25!
