After a short vacation plane trip to a deserted island goes awry, five young adults are stranded at sea, equipped only with each others' knowledge and experiences in order to navigate the waters of the ocean, as well as what lurks just beneath the surface. The characters are faced with not only the terrifying situation of being adrift in the ocean with man-eating sharks, but must also face their fears and past trauma in order to work together or risk falling victim to the creatures waiting just below the water’s surface.
Throughout the film, the danger of the sharks is not forgotten, as the camera pans out multiple times to remind the viewer that the danger is still very real. However, this doesn't take away from the interpersonal relationships between the characters. The threat of the sharks is a catalyst which forces the characters to confront their past traumas in order to work together cohesively. Most of the film focuses on the fears and motivations of each character as they navigate the situation. The two main male characters both suffer from trauma in their past that causes them to fear the water.
The film goes above and beyond the average thriller, taking a more psychological approach to the whole situation as soon as the group becomes stranded. The movie highlights the duality of how people react to trauma and stress while suffering from PTSD. Two of the main characters, Charlie and Joe, express themselves in two completely opposite manners while dealing with the stressful experience and both are supported by their strong female counterparts in order to keep them calm. The ways in which both men handle the same situation contrast heavily, showing both healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms throughout the course of the movie.
Both men are shown to have compassion for their significant others, showing them to be thriving in their personal lives and relationships despite their pasts. Upon first meeting, the two men even share a friendly encounter with one another before things go sideways. The dynamic changes at the first moment of stress, however, and the two rapidly follow two opposite paths in the wake of the disastrous situation
The ending of the film is left open ended, again differing from many other shark attack movies. This again highlights that the real focus of the film is moreso the way in which the characters handle the trauma of the situation, rather than the situation itself.
RORSCHACH RATING:
Mental Health Moment: While this, of course, is a work of fiction, real responses to PTSD fall anywhere on a huge spectrum depending on the person. Two main characters of the film both suffer from PTSD stemming from past terrifying experiences in the water. The PTSD of both characters is made apparent repeatedly throughout the film, underlined by moments of extreme anxiety and fear.
Charlie, the ex marine biologist, suffered a shark attack in his past that left him not only physically scarred, but emotionally scarred as well. Joe, the financial analyst, suffered a near drowning as a child that left him with a horrible fear of the water.
The film uses the terror of the shark to push the characters to their breaking points, forcing them into action as they have an inner battle against their own PTSD and past trauma. The way these two react when having to confront their fears is important to understanding the ways in which PTSD and past traumas can affect people. The film uses PTSD to show how it can affect relationships and the effect it can have when not addressed in a healthy way.
Whether someone suffers from PTSD or just possesses past traumatic pain that renders them emotionally distraught, confronting those fears and past situations can be absolutely debilitating. Joe's character embodies this side of the spectrum. When put in this harrowing situation, Joe becomes combative and defensive the moment he must confront the source of his trauma. Joe bottles up his fears until they burst from him in times of stress, making him come off as selfish and cold-hearted, when he is just extremely scared. While under this stress, he acts irrationally and selfishly, putting himself and his companions in danger.
Charlie, on the other hand, wears his fears and trauma as his armor, using the experience to grow and learn, making him braver and more knowledgeable because of it. He reacts by confronting his fears head on and openly, pushing through his past trauma in order to be logical, level-headed, and proactive. This shows us the other end of the spectrum, where we take the things that have hurt us and we use them to our advantage. We use them to help us move forward.
How we each handle our trauma and stress will differ greatly from person to person, but it is up to us to let it make us stronger or hinder us and our relationships with those we love. Having people that support us is important as well-- those who can help us get through the darkest hours, when we feel like our trauma is suffocating us and is pulling us below the surface. If we surround ourselves with people who will help us work through it, it may not seem like such an impossible task. If we let our trauma get the better of us, if we let it make us bitter and scared, we cannot grow and learn to become stronger. Of course we can't change our pasts, but we can use our experiences to help us grow and move forward more valiantly.
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. Special thanks to guest writer Dani Arii for reviewing Great White; Great White is property of RLJE Films and Shudder. We do not own nor claim any rights.
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