“Under Paris” (original title: Sous la Seine), a French action-horror film directed by Xavier Gens, made its impressive debut on Netflix on June 5, 2024. The film stars Bérénice Bejo as Sophia, a marine biologist grieving the loss of her husband, and Nassim Lyes as Adil, commander of the Seine River police force.
The story opens in the Pacific Ocean garbage patch, where Sophia witnesses the tragic death of her husband when he is attacked by a mako shark named Lilith. Three years later, Lilith appears under the Seine River in Paris – when the city is preparing to host the World Triathlon Championships and is looking forward to the 2024 Olympics. Sophia, along with Adil and the environmental group, discovers that the shark has adapted to fresh water and has become a real threat to the people of Paris. The film cleverly combines environmental science with the tense developments of the creature feature genre. Although there are some scripts that still have the repetitive tendencies of the shark genre - such as the roles of doctors - indifferent authorities - victims - they are set in a very "Parisian" context: under the polluted Seine River, the sewer system and the mines deep under the city. A series of underwater action scenes are invested elaborately, bringing a sense of mysterious pressure, especially in the scenes filmed in the mine, where the flashlights flicker, the water rolls under your feet and the narrow stairs bring a stuffy, creepy feeling.
However, the film is not without its weaknesses: the CGI is not really smooth, some logical details are somewhat broken - for example, Paris is flooded suddenly after a series of explosions under the river, making viewers wonder. Despite that, Under Paris still scores points thanks to its fast pace, solid acting from Bérénice Bejo and Nassim Lyes, and a style that blends horror - multiple disasters - action. The bloody action scenes in the triathlon, the battle under the river and the confrontation with Lilith all create a feeling of peak tension.
More importantly, the film brings a message about the environment and the consequences of ocean pollution: Lilith - a symbol of nature under attack - has migrated to find a way to survive through the river system, creating a dark environmental disaster. Sophie, from personal loss to the journey to confront sharks and the powerless government, is a testament to the steadfast belief in science and the responsibility to protect nature.
