Thrash Review
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Date Created: 2026-04-10 18:29
3.5
Thrash Review: Directed and written by Tommy Wirkola, this Netflix survival thriller stars Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa Fields, alongside Whitney Peak, Djimon Hounsou, Alyla Browne, Stacy Clausen, Dante Ubaldi and others. Within an 86-minute timeframe, there is no room to waste in the plot, as the film instantly throws us into the action that involves the struggle against the elements and their natural enemies.
Thrash Review
Netflix movie Thrash takes place in a coastal town threatened by its destruction. There are different people who are caught up in the confusion and chaos brought about by the Category 5 hurricane. After flooding occurs and rescues prove to be futile, things start to get even worse for everyone as sharks make their way into the flooded streets and houses. There is Lisa, who is a heavily pregnant woman, among the other people fighting for their lives, such as a family of foster children and a marine biologist.
The part of Netflix’s Thrash which I found very appealing is how fast it manages to capture your attention. From the start of the movie, you are immersed in the action; there isn’t any buildup to be seen at all. With the rising water levels, shark attacks, and claustrophobic conditions, you can feel yourself getting anxious right away. I must say that during some scenes, I was quite nervous seeing characters get trapped in tight, flooded areas with an attack coming from anywhere.
The directing of Tommy Wirkola plays an important part in sustaining this tension. Not wanting to go completely crazy with this creature horror aspect, he decided to try to make this movie emotionally based on characters instead. This can be seen from the tight camera movements in the underwater and partly underwater parts, where one feels the danger of being underwater without knowing what might pop out at any second. From the visual point of view, the movie is very well made, the storm is chaotic, the water is scary, and the sharks do a good job at intensifying the fear.
Having said that, there is definitely some delicate balancing involved when trying to achieve a blend of real-life survival story and an action-packed shark thriller. At times, the movie veers towards being slightly too predictable for its own good, but it is easily excusable because of how engaging it is. The transition from one scene to another was not always smooth, as it veered from being intense to somewhat exaggerated at times.
As for the performances, it is noteworthy that Phoebe Dynevor provides one of the emotional highlights of this movie. One may notice the physical strength and strong emotions associated with her character, Lisa. The actor manages to deliver an inspiring performance, making her a character to admire from the first frame to the last one. There is something vulnerable about the character which made me interested despite the lack of coherence in the plot development.
Whitney Peak also does an excellent job as Dakota. She portrays the transformation of her character from a state of denial into that of survival instinct, and in doing so, brings about relatability. The interactions among characters, particularly those under duress, prevent the film from being merely another run-of-the-mill movie involving shark attacks.
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Unfortunately, not all the characters are equally deep. The actor Djimon Hounsou plays a significant role, but he could use more room to shine through. There is something about his character that makes him just another means of supplying information and not an emotionally involved character. Some of the other minor characters are quite intriguing from their descriptions, but they do not have enough room for development.
In terms of the areas in which the film succeeds greatly is in terms of building suspense throughout the film through its use of set pieces. Indeed, there are a number of sequences in the movie that actually managed to make me feel very uncomfortable, not only because of the presence of the sharks but more importantly due to the sheer unpredictability of the sequence itself. The film works quite effectively through its use of fear, even when the logic breaks down.
However, in my personal opinion, where the Thrash movie really falls short is in its script writing. At times, some conversations seem forced, and even at some points, attempts to add comedic or explanatory elements may appear rather awkward and misplaced. This becomes particularly apparent whenever such elements disrupt intense action scenes. However, it does not happen constantly.
Even with all its weaknesses, Netflix film Thrash proved to be a fascinating movie to watch. The movie does not break any new ground in the genre, nor does it stick to one particular mood for the entire duration, but it still provides the viewer with an interesting viewing experience that is both thrilling and enjoyable.
Netflix Thrash Review: Summing Up
In the end, it must be said that Thrash is one of those movies which really do require letting go and getting swept away in the insanity of things. It may not be a masterpiece of filmmaking, but at least it knows how to maintain suspense and tension, and that’s something.
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