Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence and language in generic shark attack horror.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Something in the Water
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SOMETHING IN THE WATER, Meg (Hiftu Quasem), Kayla (Natalie Mitson), Cam (Nicole Rieko Setsuko), and Ruth (Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart) travel to the Caribbean for their friend Lizzie's (Lauren Lyle) wedding. When they take a small boat out to a beautiful but deserted island, their dream vacation turns into a nightmare when a shark starts to stalk the group, with bloody repercussions.
Is It Any Good?
Ominous music, underwater shots of legs flailing, and drone footage of the requisite fin do well to create tension in this generic shark attack horror. But first-time director Hayley Easton Street does little to add to the genre with Something in the Water. The fact that the movie is female-led is a draw, as is its queer-friendly cast of characters, but it otherwise gets lost in a crowd of other movies that do things with a bit more creativity, a few more thrills, and a touch more humor. Here, the jokes fall flat and the chemistry between the leads doesn't always feel natural. But the characters all prove relatively likable by the end, and there's a great shark sucker punch. While the action gets going fairly quickly, the movie drags toward the end, where the characters, and the plot, are left treading water for longer than necessary.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violent and scary scenes in Something in the Water. Were you surprised by the blood and gore, or did you expect it from a movie like this? How did it compare with other shark attack movies you've seen? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain level of language expected in a film like this?
What techniques were used in the film to create tension? Which were specific to shark films and which were broader horror movie approaches?
Characters show teamwork and perseverance. Why are these important life skills? Can you think of times you've shown them in your own life?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 3, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : May 3, 2024
- Cast : Hiftu Quasem , Natalie Mitson , Nicole Rieko Setsuko , Lauren Lyle
- Director : Hayley Easton Street
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language throughout, some violence and bloody images
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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