Survive 2024
Frédéric Jardin’s “Survive” may not redefine the genre, but originality isn’t the main focus of this entertaining French disaster film. Disaster movies typically adhere to a familiar pattern; you can simply swap out the catastrophe, and the storyline of “Survive” closely resembles that of “Daylight” or “The Poseidon Adventure.” The film maintains a similar level of suspense. It begins in a seemingly idyllic setting, where a family of four is sailing off the coast of Puerto Rico, until they notice unsettling signs: ominous clouds, turbulent waters, and a disrupted internet connection.
The family is on a sailing trip to celebrate Ben’s (Lucas Ebel) 13th birthday. His father, Tom (Andreas Pietschmann), is teaching him how to fish while his mother, Julia (Émilie Dequenne), a doctor, relaxes in the calm waters nearby. Suddenly, Tom rescues Julia from drowning as a whirlpool unexpectedly pulls her under. Meanwhile, Ben’s sister Cassie is video chatting with her boyfriend when his feed suddenly freezes. Then, fiery objects resembling comets crash into the ocean. A fierce storm erupts, leaving the family in dire straits. When they awaken the next morning, having survived the tempest, they find themselves on the barren seafloor, with their boat stranded. Tom theorizes that the poles have shifted, causing the seas to recede and expose the land.
The initial thirty minutes struggle to find their footing, burdened by the script from Alexandre Coquelle and Mathieu Oullion, which leans heavily on genre clichés. Naturally, Tom manages to connect with a survivor via his VHF radio—a submariner named Nao (Olivier Ho Hio Hen) who warns that the poles will shift again in a week, and the transition will be just as tumultuous. Nao has the capacity to rescue Ben and Cassie, but they must reach him before the impending disaster strikes. As expected, a mysterious stranger accompanied by a black dog intercepts them before they can escape, forcing the family to fight for their survival as they make a desperate dash across the vast desert, its vibrant orange tones reminiscent of “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
The children, as anticipated, prove to be more of a hindrance, adding to the tension due to their ineptitude. In contrast, their mother steps up to the challenge; Dequenne delivers a strikingly physical performance, showcasing a body that endures numerous injuries yet remains unbroken. The film also touches on themes of climate change, particularly highlighting the damage we’ve inflicted on our oceans. The family encounters scenes filled with discarded nuclear barrels, plastic chairs, shipping containers, and plastic bottles, though these elements feel somewhat contrived, as one would expect a more natural scattering of debris.
With its engaging premise and energetic soundtrack, “Survive” serves as an entertaining B-movie that draws parallels to “Dante’s Peak” until an unexpected twist takes center stage: a swarm of rapid, flesh-eating crabs rises to dominate the food chain. Much like “Tremors,” we experience their relentless assaults from ground level, as they kick up dust while pursuing their prey. It’s refreshing to see an apocalyptic film embrace a playful and adventurous spirit. The special effects are so impressive that I found myself less concerned about the family’s fate. While this might seem like a critique, in a disaster film, the disaster itself should take the spotlight, with the human characters merely there to evoke some emotional response and garner audience support.
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