Saturday, July 8, 2023

Sea Fever, Sea Monster vs. Fishermen

A family of fishermen...and of course, the sultry redheaded babe. Hence, a horror film from Ireland. Fans of redheads will love the beautiful Hermione Corfield.  Fans of horror will love the squid/jellyfish creature.  Fands of claustrophobic horror will love the man versus parasitic threat tale aboard an old fishing vessel.  Paranoia, tendrils, infection, and salty characters will float your boat even as the one in this film seems destined to sink. Today we look at 2019's "Sea Fever," directed by Neasa Hardiman.

Siobhan is a scientist in a lab doing experiments on parasites and their proclivity to adapt. A true babe, I know.  She really is.  Flowing red hair and great big...well, she has a big smile.  As many of us do, she hates people.  Too bad...to get her PhD and to complete her thesis, she must board a fishing vessel, study the catch, and live among a fisherman family during their voyage.  Uh oh...a huge sea monster attaches itself to the ship as soon as the captain (Dougray Scott) ventures into 'off-limits' waters.  The tendrils of this thing that shows similarities to the two aforementioned creatures, melt holes in the hull and secrete a slime into it.  Siobhan dives into the water to get a loo at it and sees the monster.  She returns to the boat with a look that says, "we're f**ked."

Stuck in the water, Siobhan, the captain, and Johnny (Jack Hickey) take a rowboat to a neighboring and anchored fishing boat.  Everyone on board the vessel is dead...and their eyes have all exploded.  Back to their own boat, infection begins among the crew.  Sadly, Johnny, who Siobhan is sweet on, is the first.  His eyes explode and Siobhan realizes the parasites have gotten into the freshwater hold.  Now one by one infection sets in.  The fishermen, as salty as they are, need Siobhan to figure out something.  The monster hovers down below and another one grows in the hold.  Siobhan figures out how to test for infection, with horrible results.  Then she comes up with a plan...not a good one...not one any sane person will buy into...but its a plan. Horror awaits as the crew realizes making port may mean the infection of all of Ireland (as if England hasn't already done this to that poor country).

Will our sultry redhead survive and make it back to Ireland with a newfound love for people?  Will the fishermen make calamari of their slithery tormentor?  Will Siobhan, as a scientist who hates people, insist on trying to communicate with this new and rare lifeform?  Actually, don't scoff at that last question...you'll see.  See "Sea Fever," and never go fishing again.

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