Netflix's new shark thriller Thrash is more fun than scary

Netflix's new shark thriller Thrash doesn't pretend to be high art. Set during a catastrophic storm that floods a coastal town, the film throws Phoebe Dynevor into rising waters teeming with apex predators. Directed by Tommy Wirkola, known for genre-bending fare like Dead Snow, the movie leans hard into its ridiculous premise-sharks in the streets, last-minute escapes, and one particularly wild childbirth sequence in floodwater. It's not subtle, but it doesn't really aim to be.

The plot follows Dynevor as a pregnant woman separated from her partner during a hurricane evacuation. Stranded with a small group that includes Djimon Hounsou and Whitney Peak, she must survive both the storm and the increasingly aggressive sharks that have ignored nature's usual boundaries. The film leans into climate disaster themes, though not deeply-its focus stays on survival, chaos, and the next big set piece.

Reactions have been mixed. Polygon called it a brisk, efficient thriller that feels like a sequel brainstorm for better shark films like Crawl. The Hollywood Reporter described it as preposterous but enjoyable pulp, praising Dynevor's commitment to the madness. But The Guardian was harsher, calling the film a suspense-free dud that never generates real tension, despite its high stakes.

Part of Thrash's baggage comes from its rocky path to release. The film cycled through multiple distributors and went by at least two other titles before Netflix picked it up. That history shows-there's a sense of identity drift, as if the filmmakers weren't sure whether to go full camp or play it straight. The result hovers awkwardly between horror, disaster drama, and B-movie fun.

Still, there's something to be said for a movie that doesn't waste time. Thrash moves fast, rarely pausing to explain why sharks are swimming through suburban living rooms. It's the kind of film that treats a labor scene in shark-infested water as just another obstacle, not a tonal breaking point. Dynevor sells the intensity, even when the script veers into the absurd.

For viewers looking for genuine scares or smart commentary on climate change, Thrash will likely disappoint. But if you're in the mood for something loud, fast, and unapologetically silly, it might hit the spot. It's less a shark movie and more a disaster carnival with sharks as one of many hazards.

Ultimately, Thrash won't redefine the genre or linger in memory. But in the crowded world of streaming thrillers, sometimes just being watchable is enough. And for a Friday night with the lights low and the logic turned off, it might just do the job.