Superdeep (2020) – Movie Review
14th June 2021 Written by Peter Walkden
Anya (Milena Radulovic) is a scientist with a horrific past relating to the death of one of her close colleagues. One evening, while Anya is with a group of close friends, she receives a phone call regarding an urgent situation. She is informed of an incident in a place known as The Superdeep, the world’s most secretive underground research facility located seven miles underground in Russia. Her mission is to investigate the threat and collect critical samples from the facility. In doing so, she is promised rewards for her discoveries and increased credibility. Joining her are the military to ensure whatever has caused the alert does not ever reach the surface.
As Anya arrives, she begins to collect various samples and test the workers above ground. Once testing is complete and clear, she soon takes the elevator down and a team to the research lab. Naturally, it’s not long until Anya and her team make far greater discoveries of a significant threat not only to the remaining survivors underground but also to the surface above.
Within the film’s first act, I was reminded of other films with similar plot outlines. Films such as Doom and Resident Evil also deliver a concept that involves a threat underground that requires a skilled team to investigate. Superdeep, thankfully, has some good ideas, which I found enjoyable on-screen.
The film settings and general set designs were all great to see from start to finish. Regarding the horror element, I was also excited to see several enjoyable and unsettling moments occur as Anya and the team made significant discoveries. These moments are unpredictable and, at times, can be uncomfortable to see. This was a nice touch, and the film makes bigger reveals and attempts to deliver more significant threats as it continues. The film’s audio track was also another element that I enjoyed while watching.
Unfortunately, for Superdeep, there are some elements that did not work for me. While the plot’s concept and horror elements are solid, the lead and side performances are dull and vague. Even during genuinely horrifying moments, many characters fail to show significant emotions, such as being scared or overly worried, instead of staying monotone. The plot, at times, is also questionable. For example, Anya has many flashbacks from her past, but I found myself attempting to understand the importance of these scenes. The film’s third act picks up and ends more strongly than the first and second acts.
Overall, for those who enjoy films such as Doom, Resident Evil, and horror classics such as The Thing, Superdeep is your kind of film—delivering a fun concept, incredible set designs and horror aspects, which are sometimes unsettling and positive to witness. But sadly, Superdeep has many bland elements, including the main performances and the core plot, which all feel vague and dull, with some exceptions in the third act. Those who are seeking a new horror film should still most certainly check this one out.
5.1/10
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