“Survive” Review: Frédéric Jardin’s French Disaster Flick Wows

Frédéric Jardin’s “Survive” may not shatter any norms, but its lack of originality doesn’t hinder this thrilling French disaster film. Following the formula of many disaster movies, the film begins with a seemingly normal family sailing to celebrate their son’s birthday. However, strange signs start to appear, including tumultuous clouds, an agitated sea, and a disrupted internet connection. After surviving a vicious storm, the family awakens to find themselves on a craggy seafloor, suspecting that the poles have flipped. As they encounter various obstacles and fight for their lives, the true star of the film emerges – fast-moving, man-eating crabs. This unexpected twist sets “Survive” apart, transforming it into an exciting and adventurous thriller.

– Frédéric Jardin’s “Survive” is a French disaster flick that follows the standard formula of a disaster movie.
– A family sailing off the coast of Puerto Rico encounters strange signs and survives a violent storm, only to find themselves on a craggy seafloor.
– The family must reach a survivor’s location before another cataclysmic event occurs, while also facing attacks from man-eating crabs.

Frédéric Jardin’s film, “Survive,” may not break new ground, but it doesn’t need to in order to entertain as a schlocky French disaster flick. However, “Survive” manages to simmer with tension just like its predecessors. The movie begins with a seemingly normal family sailing off the coast of Puerto Rico to celebrate Ben’s 13th birthday. But as they encounter strange signs of an impending disaster, such as tumultuous clouds, a rough sea, and a disrupted internet connection, their sunny world quickly turns into a living nightmare.

As the family sails, Tom teaches Ben to fish while Julia, a doctor, enjoys the tranquil water. However, Julia is suddenly pulled under by a whirlpool, only to be saved by Tom. Cassie, Ben’s sister, tries to video chat with her boyfriend, but the call freezes due to the disrupted internet connection. Satellites, resembling fiery comets, crash into the sea, unleashing a vicious storm that puts their lives in jeopardy. When the family wakes up after surviving the storm, they find themselves on the craggy seafloor – the water has completely disappeared. Tom suspects that the poles have flipped, causing the land to be submerged.

The first half hour of the film feels uneven, burdened by a script that leans too heavily on genre expectations. However, it takes an intriguing turn when Tom manages to contact a survivor using his VHF radio. The survivor is a submariner named Nao, who warns the family that the poles will flip again in a week, with an equally violent transition. Nao offers to save Ben and Cassie if the family can reach his location in time. But as expected, a lone stranger with a black dog encounters them before they can leave, forcing the family to fight for their lives. They eventually escape across a vast desert, reminiscent of “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

The children prove to be predictably useless, adding to the drama due to their incompetence. On the other hand, their mother, Julia, rises to the occasion, delivering a powerful physical performance. Despite being battered, bruised, and gashed, she remains unbroken, showcasing her resilience. The film also touches on climate change, highlighting the way humans have poisoned the oceans. The family stumbles upon scenes of discarded atomic barrels, plastic chairs, shipping containers, and plastic bottles, although some of these items seem too precisely placed.

While “Survive” fits the mold of a B-movie, it distinguishes itself with a thrilling premise and a lively score. It closely resembles “Dante’s Peak” until something truly remarkable happens: a horde of fast-moving, man-eating crabs becomes the new apex predator. Similar to “Tremors,” the attacks unfold from the crabs’ perspective as they pick up dust towards their victims. This absurd and adventurous twist adds an extra layer of excitement to the film. Surprisingly, the quality of the disaster itself overshadows the stakes of the family’s well-being. Nonetheless, this serves as a testament to the film’s ability to prioritize the disaster as the true star of the show.

Overall, “Survive” manages to be an enjoyable escapist thriller with its fair share of excitement. It earns a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars for its ability to entertain and surprise despite the familiar genre tropes.

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