The Deep (1977)

Memorable, crazy movie

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Blistering performances.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

All movies need to be reviewed in the context of the era in which they were made. This 40 year old movie is a classic for its time. The story line is excellent. The underwater cinematography outstanding and Jaquline Bisset well, as beautiful and elegant as ever. The movie focuses on treasure hunters tourists who get mixed up with unsavory islanders. The movie chugs along as expected with good prevailing over evil, but most impressive is Robert Shaw's performance which is as good or better than his prevail of Quint in Jaws. A simple straight forward classic with outstanding underwater footage.

I love Robert Shaw and Eli Wallach, both two great great actors. Eli Wallach has a small, insignificant role in this. Robert Shaw is good but I love him much more in "From Russia with Love", "Battle of the Bulge", "The Sting" and especially in "A Man for All Seasons". Jacqueline Bisset is young and beautiful. Same Nick Nolte. Here he is not the great actor from later roles like in "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" or "Cape Fear". Beautiful underwater filming by Christopher Challis. When I first saw it, about 40 years ago, I liked it more (I was about 20 years old). Watched again in 2018, I find it static, monotonous, boring, does not have the same charm.

The Deep is another Peter Benchley success, this time involving treasure, Drugs, and mystery. David(Nick Nolte) and Gail(Jacqueline Bisset) are vacationing in Bermuda. They are diving one day, and come across a sunken ship, The Goliath.When they explore it, David finds a piece of treasure. Thinking it could be some kind of coin. He also discovers an ampule of morphine. Gail on the other hand has a run in with something that tried to pull her arm off, but got her diving stick instead. What it was is never know to the viewer? It could have been a Morey Eel, but what ever it was was big, and it almost pulled her under the bottom. When they come up from diving, Dave tells her about his discovery. When they return to shore and tells someone working on the beach, where they were the guy gives him a strange look. The guy gets very suspicious, and wonders why they were down roaming in The Goliath. That night when Gail and David go to dinner, they attract unwanted attention. During dinner a man by the name of Cloche(Lou Gossett Jr.) comes over. He introduces himself as a rare glass collector. He wants the ample of Morphine, but Dave refuses. The next day David and Gail want to find out more about the treasure he found, and info on the ample. They take it to the best treasure hunter on the island, Romer Treece( Robert Shaw). He tells them what they found is no coin, but a medallion. Treece tells them if they found the ample on the Goliath, there's bound to be thousands more. The Goliath was a military medical ship. The medallion doesn't catch Treece's attention as much as the ample does. So he, David, and Gail, go and find Coffin. Coffin was one of those that survived the ship wreck, and Treece wants to know more. It wasn't just a military ship that carried medical supplies; but one that carried a lot of ammo.Cloche also will do anything to get his hands on this, including killing anyone who gets in the way. Cloche first tries to kill Dave and Gail by running them off the road and kidnapping them. Then when Treece and Dave dive one night. Cloche sends his hench men to threaten Gail at their hotel room. While on this cat and mouse game of survival, they learn more about another sunken ship whee the medallion was found. Whit the help of Romer they find out who the medallion belonged to and the history of it and other treasures that are down there. When Coffin double crosses Treece, Treece's loyal friend joins in to help, Kevin(Robert Tessier). When they all team up the stakes get higher, and Cloche is right on their tails.This movie is excellent, not as good as JAWS; but it grabs you from the start. Robert Shaw is excellent as Treece, but to date Quit is still is best performance. I enjoyed this movie so much because of the scenery, plot, and excitement. The giant Moray Eel will get your attention, especially at the end. For those that love movies about treasure hunters, with action/suspense this is for you. It is highly recommended and you will not be disappointed. Since I have seen this movie I am reading the book. I want to know more that you just can't get from the movie. Don't pass this gem up, because your adventure awaits you IN THE DEEP.Thanks, Kris

"The Deep" is an interesting film. It has some issues. There doesn't seem to be a climax, and the film doesn't really explore where it could go. Structurally, it's a bit of a mess. It may even be one of the best remake contenders in Hollywood. "Into the Blue", which wasn't very good, was similar but really lacked all the characteristics that made "The Deep" a good movie.So what does make The Deep a good flick? "The Deep" is loaded with amazing under-water photography, and has undeniable, amazing atmosphere, good acting, and a few genuinely terrifying moments.Nolte is fantastic, and Robert Shaw nearly reprises his character and that characters' impact from 1975's Jaws. The film is intriguing and mysterious. Jacqueline Bisset is a fine, convincing addition, and there's a strange chemistry between the leads here.This film has style. IMO, it's criminally under-rated at 6.1. I know the film has some issues with the way the story ends, but seldom if ever will you come across a 6.1 film that is so eerie and atmospheric in design. The film has a look and feel that would be hard for any remake to duplicate. 76/100 A personal favorite and a great sleeper from the era.If you like this you might like: Sorceror(similar quality, different subject, but similar strengths and weaknesses), The Beach(not quite as good imo, but not bad at all), or Angel Heart(perhaps a touch better).