THE DEVIL’S MOUTH (2026)

I know I’m not alone when I say that shark movies are one of my all-time favourite film genres. Some might argue that shark movies are technically a horror subgenre or a monster movie or man versus nature story, but I hear myself thinking, always as I swim in a pool or lake during the dog days of summer, I feel like a shark movie. And if you’re anything like me and still get chills bobbing in all bodies of water since the day you first watched Jaws (1975), you know nothing takes you back to childhood like seeing water turn red on screen. Thankfully, I’m not alone as it seems there’s a new offering released every other month for us who chase this dragon. The thing about shark movies is the one that started it all (Jaws) is kinda perfect. The effects are dated, but otherwise the music, the all-bets-are-off casualties, Roy Scheider, the comedy…nothing comes close, and critics everywhere consciously and unconsciously compare every shark movie against this impossible once-in-a-lifetime pinnacle. And Jaws is brilliant, mostly, for being commercial. It’s a B-movie. And the secret to its sauce is it takes itself seriously. It’s grounded in reality and there’s nothing scarier than reality. New Police Chief Martin Brody’s Amity Island charges are being eaten. Not good. And his kids like to boat. The Devil’s Mouth (2026) also brings heightened, yet down home stressors. Sara and Max (Kathryn Newton and Lana Condor) are post-grad American college friends vacationing in Thailand who find themselves trapped in a freshwater cave system with an aggressive bull shark. It’s basic sharksploitation and doesn’t end with “nado”, which is where we at Premium Def draw the line. Sara is grieving her father, about to start a new job, while also suffering as the fifth wheel, vacationing with Max’s boyfriend, a third girlfriend and her latest lover. Sara is sweet, trusting and maintains a safety-first demeanour. Max is as smug and faultless as she is manipulative. They’re well-drawn shark food and everyone is expendable and it’s fun to wonder who will go and in what order. But more importantly, it’s a realistic, scary and stressful predicament with the added threat being toxic friendships. They are not simply chum, but chums with lessons to learn about trust. Now it’s not perfect. All I’ll say is its Chief Brody’s terror and recognizable commitment to self-preservation above all else that makes Jaws the eternal standout. Still, it’s fun and you may see yourself, a friend or ex-friend amongst the group. The Devil’s Mouth joins The Reef (2010) and The Shallows (2016) within the high tier of pretty okay shark movies. Allergy-addiction syndrome is when you crave what’s bad for you, or at least what scares you. And this one satisfies, while keeping you hungry for more. Thanks a heap Steven Spielberg.