The Devil’s Mouth (dir. Jeff Wadlow)
By: Dave Hughes
Shark movies have always been a staple of the horror community. Ever since Jaws became the original summer blockbuster in 1975, there has been a constant clamoring for the next great creature feature. Unfortunately, very few live up to that standard, with many falling squarely into terrible territory. The Devil’s Mouth is the latest entry attempting to carve out a following, offering a unique approach and surprising commentary on friend-group dynamics. Although not all of its narrative elements come together seamlessly, The Devil’s Mouth does just enough to make itself a solid survival thriller.
Director Jeff Wadlow’s aquatic creature feature begins with a tight-knit group of friends embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Thailand. Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Freaky) stars as Sara McKenna, serving as the central lens through which the audience experiences the journey. As a tribute to Sara’s late father, the group decides to explore a remote set of sea caves. Predictably, disaster strikes, leaving them trapped in the dark while a relentless bull shark hunts them down one by one. Forced to fight for survival, the group must navigate both the deadly predator in the water and the rising interpersonal tensions within their group.
Wadlow utilizes a creative visual approach within the film, best demonstrated through his use of the cave to increase tension as well as create unique visuals like bioluminescence in the water. Choices like this make The Devil’s Mouth stand out in contrast to other shark films. Many films have opted to use the open ocean but the choice of the cave creates an effectively claustrophobic feel within the film. The claustrophobic cave walls and murky waters build a dark, foreboding atmosphere. Audiences can sense the rising dread as the relentless shark systematically picks off the group one by one.
The ensemble is anchored by Kathryn Newton, who serves as the film’s emotional core. Opposite her, Lana Condor (To All the Boys I've Loved Before) plays her best friend, Max, revealing a far more complex and co-dependent relationship than initially meets the eye. The two share a subtly toxic dynamic that eventually becomes a central narrative driver, though deeper exploration of their history would have helped forge stronger audience empathy. Outside of Sara and Max, however, the rest of the group receives precious little development, functioning primarily as background support to fuel the central pair's drama.
Horror fans frequently appreciate shark movies due to the erratic, unpredictable nature of the apex predator itself. There is an inherent tension in never knowing quite when or where the monster will strike. The Devil’s Mouth offers a few genuinely surprising scares along the way, even if other beats fall into familiar, formulaic patterns where viewers can anticipate the exact moment of impact. Ultimately, Wadlow’s isn't a film that thrives strictly on cheap jump scares; instead, it smartly leans into its suffocating, enclosed setting to generate genuine dread.
Target Score 5/10: The Devil’s Mouth does just enough to stand out in a crowded subgenre, offering a shark movie with an intriguing twist. Through its unique cavernous setting and a surprisingly complex friendship dynamic, director Jeff Wadlow delivers an entertaining survival thriller that audiences can enjoy without being completely terrified of stepping back into the water.