Despite being a $40 million box office flop, Kristen Stewart’s 2020 film Underwater was able to save itself due to its fantastically done final twist. On the surface, Underwater’s sci-fi horror premise seems to mirror many other staples of the genre, including the iconic Alien franchise, due to its claustrophobic conditions and cast of intrepid characters. The story of a group of workers at a drilling facility being accosted by monsters is not new, but the execution of it in 2020 is what truly set it apart.
Underwater, even with its disappointing numbers upon release, was able to become one of the most underrated horror movies of 2020. This may partly be due to the fact that many of the actors, including Kristen Stewart herself, starred in successful projects after the film’s release, drawing audiences in who wanted to see more of their work. However, one other major reason has to do with the movie’s ending twist, which introduced an iconic monster with both an expansive history and fanbase that dates back to the late 1920s.
Underwater’s Cthulu Ending Twist Elevated The Kristen Stewart Movie Above Mediocrity
Underwater Would Otherwise Be An Alien Copycat
The ending of Underwater featured the classic monster from H.P. Lovecraft’s works, elevating the film beyond the mediocrity of its premise while adapting a difficult horror staple. Underwater’s premise shares many similarities to Alien, as the story follows a group trapped in dangerous circumstances who are being chased by unknown creatures. Underwater simply switches outer space to the depths of the Mariana Trench. Underwater’s movie ending, though, reworked that premise by adding the Lovecraftian god Cthulu in a welcome twist.
H. P. Lovecraft’s work contains many problematic elements, but the stories have also stood the test of time as works of horror due to the atmosphere and unique creatures he features. By adding in Cthulu, Underwater was able to save itself as it successfully adapted the creature in a way most other films and shows could not, giving itself a distinctive advantage over other films in the genre. Even so, the movie did not find conventional success upon release, and it took three years for it to reach the cult classic status it now enjoys.
Why Underwater Wasn’t More Popular With Audiences & Critics
Underwater’s January Release Hurt Its Numbers
Underwater’s January 2020 premiere date handicapped its theatrical release, but the Cthulu reveal allowed the film to become more popular later. January is historically a bad month for new films in any genre, and Underwater suffered for it. Film critics also took Underwater to task for its lack of new contributions to the genre, stating on Rotten Tomatoes how the characters and style of the film were not enough to boost the narrative.
Cthulu’s presence essentially saved Underwater.
The COVID-19 pandemic and Underwater‘s arrival to streaming, though, shifted its public perception, especially after director William Eubank confirmed Cthulu’s presence in the finale. Audiences who had not seen the film during its theatrical run enjoyed its tension and тιԍнт cinematography, with the presence of the Lovecraftian monster allowing Underwater to become a 2020 sleeper hit. Cthulu’s presence essentially saved Underwater, with a monstrous twist that’s surprising, satisfying, and intriguing.
