The Requin (2022), directed and written by Le-Van Kiet, attempts to combine psychological trauma with shark-infested survival horror. Starring Alicia Silverstone in a rare lead role, the film explores themes of grief, survival, and the unpredictable terror of nature. While it sets out to deliver a tense, emotional ride, The Requin struggles with pacing, dialogue, and believability, ultimately offering more frustration than thrills.
The story follows Jaelyn (Alicia Silverstone) and her husband Kyle (James Tupper) as they travel to a remote overwater bungalow in Vietnam, hoping to recover after Jaelyn suffers a miscarriage. But their attempt at healing quickly turns into a nightmare when a violent tropical storm rips their bungalow away from shore, leaving them stranded at sea.
Drifting in open water without communication or control, the couple must face dehydration, injury, and — as the title suggests — a massive and aggressive shark lurking beneath the surface. As their situation grows increasingly desperate, Jaelyn must find the strength to survive, even when everything seems lost.
Alicia Silverstone delivers a committed performance as Jaelyn, carrying most of the emotional and physical weight of the film. She convincingly portrays a woman grappling with loss, fear, and guilt, even when the script doesn't always support her depth. James Tupper gives a solid performance, though his character feels underdeveloped and largely serves as a narrative catalyst for Jaelyn’s transformation.
The Requin is set in a beautiful, haunting location, but unfortunately, the film's reliance on obvious CGI undermines the realism. The storm sequences and open-ocean visuals often look artificial, and the shark, while menacing in concept, never quite feels like a tangible threat due to unconvincing effects.
That said, the film does manage to create a sense of isolation and helplessness in its best moments — particularly when focusing on the silence and vastness of the open sea.
The film ambitiously tries to blend emotional trauma with survival horror. Jaelyn’s journey is as much about mental healing as it is about physical endurance. The metaphor of being "adrift" — mentally and literally — is clear, but the heavy-handed dialogue and implausible scenarios detract from the film’s deeper intentions.
Where The Requin falters most is in its pacing and tone. The slow, contemplative first half tries to set up emotional stakes but drags too long, while the second half rushes into survival thrills without fully earning the suspense. The shark itself doesn’t become a serious threat until well into the film, and when it does, the tension is often undermined by predictable sequences and exaggerated action.
The Requin (2022) is a film with admirable ambitions but flawed execution. Alicia Silverstone’s performance stands out, and there are glimpses of a powerful survival story buried beneath the surface. However, the film’s overuse of CGI, inconsistent tone, and clunky writing make it difficult to fully immerse in the danger or emotion it aims to convey.
For fans of ocean-based thrillers, The Requin may offer brief moments of tension — but ultimately, it doesn’t swim in the same waters as stronger entries in the genre like The Shallows or Open Water.
