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The Devil’s Mouth review – Amazon’s shark thriller gives us just about enough to chew on
The Guardian reviews The Devil's Mouth, a new Amazon Prime shark thriller released during Shark Week, which follows a group of American college friends whose Thailand holiday turns deadly when they become trapped in a cave system with an aggressive bull shark. The review notes that 2026 has become saturated with shark films, roughly six released so far with more on the way, prompting the critic to question whether this one adds anything new to the well-worn "swim, stalk, slash" formula.
The film's distinguishing feature is its focus on a toxic friendship between two lead characters, Max (Lana Condor) and Sara (Kathryn Newton), whose fraying bond provides added tension alongside the shark peril, though the critic feels this angle isn't fully realised compared with stronger genre entries. The cast also includes Nico Hiraga, Gavin Casalegno and Tommi Rose, with the group's guide played by Tayme Thapthimthong. The setup draws comparisons to 2019's 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, and the review situates the film within a crowded field of recent shark movies, including Deep Water and Above & Below.
In short
- Amazon's The Devil's Mouth is a new shark thriller set in Thai cave systems.
- Reviewer says it's solid but formulaic amid a shark-movie glut in 2026.
- Toxic friendship subplot between leads adds some fresh tension.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
With six shark films released in 2026 and further entries forthcoming, there's a legitimate concern about creative exhaustion within the industry. Whilst The Devil's Mouth demonstrates some ambition in exploring a toxic friendship between its protagonists, this cannot adequately compensate for what remains fundamentally a variation on well-established thriller conventions. Audiences deserve stories that genuinely advance their chosen genres rather than merely execute them competently.
The case against
Films warrant evaluation on their own execution and artistic merit rather than their position within broader market trends. The Devil's Mouth's attempt to embed genuine emotional complexity within its shark-thriller premise demonstrates creative ambition, and competently realised genre entertainment holds considerable value for audiences seeking stories within that particular form. The existence of other shark films is a commercial matter rather than a valid measure of this film's artistic worth.
Explained simply
The Devil's Mouth is a new shark thriller arriving on Amazon Prime during Shark Week, following a group of American college friends whose holiday in Thailand becomes a survival ordeal when they become trapped in an underwater cave with an aggressive bull shark. The film stars Lana Condor and Kathryn Newton in lead roles, alongside Nico Hiraga, Gavin Casalegno and Tommi Rose.
2026 has seen a significant uptick in shark films, with roughly six released so far and more on the horizon. This has prompted critics to question whether new entries can distinguish themselves in a rapidly saturating genre. The Devil's Mouth arrives alongside recent releases such as Deep Water and Above & Below.
What potentially sets this apart is its focus on a fraying friendship between its two leads, Max and Sara. This relationship provides tension alongside the shark threat, though reviewers have questioned whether this element is developed as fully as it could be.
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