Horror maestro Alexandre Aja is officially keeping his feet soaked in aquatic terror. Between gearing up for Netflix’s Under Paris 2 and returning to helm the long-awaited sequel to his 2019 sleeper hit Crawl, Aja is once again proving that water is the ultimate death trap. This time, however, the gators are packing their bags and taking a bite out of the Big Apple.
A Concrete Jungle Turned Submerged Feeding Ground
Leaving behind the hurricane-battered swamps of Florida, Crawl 2 trades suburban crawlspaces for a partially submerged New York City. Specific plot details are still tucked safely below the waterline. However, the urban setting immediately brings to mind the legendary myth of alligators lurking in the NYC sewer system. It’s also an enthusiastic, modern nod to cult creature-feature classics like 1980’s Alligator. Navigating rising floodwaters trapped inside a skyscraper canyon against hungry apex predators elevates the franchise’s claustrophobic thrill ride to a whole new level of citywide chaos.
Fresh Prey and Horror Royalty Behind the Camera
A brand-new setting demands a fresh batch of survivors to throw into the deep end. The sequel has now given an update. Scream’s Mason Gooding (Scream, Heart Eyes) is joining Emily Rudd (Fear Street trilogy) to lead the new sequel.
On the script side, Andrew Deutschman and Jason Pagan (Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension) co-wrote the screenplay alongside Aja and Gregory Levasseur. Legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi is returning to produce alongside Craig Flores and Aja. Levasseur and Zainab Azizi are serving as executive producers.
Building on a $91 Million Creature-Feature Juggernaut
The original 2019 feature pitted Kaya Scodelario against a brutal Category 5 storm and a ruthless pack of hungry reptiles. The movie was an absolute triumph of white-knuckle suspense and creature action. Produced on a modest $13 million budget, Crawl gobbled up over $91 million worldwide, making sequels an absolute no-brainer from day one.
With an incredible new cast, horror royalty guiding the ship, and New York City turning into an all-you-can-eat buffet, Crawl 2 is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling creature features on the horizon.
Back in 2024, I sat down with Aja for an interview to discuss his horror-thriller Never Let Go. You should check it out while you wait for Crawl 2. If you want to rewatch or watch Crawl for the first time, you can find it on Paramount+. Here’s a look back at the trailer.
