By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"WHALEFALL" IS A DEEP DIVE INTO TERROR
I could give you at least 20 reasons why I would never go scuba diving. Topping the list would be the fear of being swallowed whole by a sperm whale, much like
Austin Abrams' character in the survival thriller
"Whalefall."
It's one thing to worry about what might be lurking beneath the surface, but with my luck, being swallowed by a sperm whale would be the ultimate nightmare.
Thankfully, "Whalefall" which is written and directed by
Brian Duffield ("No One Will Save You") and adapted from
Daniel Kraus' 2023 novel of the same name, isn't based on a true story. Still, its unsettling premise is enough to make even a novice diver think twice about venturing beneath the waves.
In the film, Abrams ("Resident Evil" and "Weapons") plays Jay Gardiner, a college student struggling to cope with the death of his father, Mitt (an excellent Josh Brolin, "Weapons"). Mitt was a man of the sea, happiest when he was out on his boat or scuba diving. Jay wanted to make his father proud, but he never quite shared Mitt's passion for the ocean.
When Mitt is diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare cancer, he refuses treatment. Even as his condition deteriorates, he continues to head out on the water with his friend Hewey (John Ortiz, "Nobody 2"), determined to enjoy whatever time he has left. Eventually, however, his suffering becomes too much, and Mitt jumps from the boat and drowns, leaving his family behind to grapple with the loss.
Jay's mother, Zara (Elisabeth Shue, TV's "The Boys"), and his sisters, Eva (Jane Levy, "River") and Nan (Emily Rudd, TV's "Hunters"), attempt to come to terms with their loss and find a way to move forward as a family. Jay, however, remains stuck in his grief. He hasn't found the courage to read the farewell letter Mitt left for him. The unresolved tension continues to haunt him, leaving Jay with questions and feelings he has yet to confront.
Believing he can finally find some measure of closure, Jay heads to Monastery Beach in Monterey County to search for his father's remains. It's a dangerous undertaking, to say the least. The beach is notorious for its powerful surf and history of fatal drownings and treacherous rescue attempts. But Jay presses on, hoping he can bring something back from his father and put the past to rest.
The film uses flashbacks to show a young Jay being both scolded and embraced by his father as he teaches Jay the skills needed to survive at sea. Though it may not have seemed like Jay was paying attention, he was, and that proves fortunate when he ventures into open water and finds himself caught in the middle of a battle between a sperm whale and a giant squid. In a shocking turn of events, Jay is abruptly swallowed by the whale, seemingly becoming part of a two-course meal.
The scene is remarkably realistic as Jay desperately fights to escape the whale's dark interior while struggling against the giant, gooey squid. Underwater scenes in so many movies are often so dark and poorly lit that audiences must squint to make out what's happening. That isn't the case here. The filmmakers do an excellent job of bringing these harrowing moments into sharp focus, using tight close-ups and effective lighting to heighten the tension and make Jay's terrifying ordeal feel even more immediate. You really have to see it to believe it.
There are moments in "Whalefall" when the flashbacks become a bit overstated, but they still tie into the storyline and don't hamper the film that much. The drama and intensity of Jay's struggle as his oxygen runs low, along with the ingenious way he attempts to escape the whale's belly, are what audiences will enjoy the most about "Whalefall." It's a stunning nail-biter.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"WHALEFALL"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
