The Deep: Bluray Review
The 70s Columbia logo vanishes from frame and we open with an aerial shot of Bermuda.
Already, I've been whisked back in time to my mum and dad's living room full of anticipation of the film from the man who wrote Jaws, featuring the man who was in Jaws. Welcome to The Deep.
This edition explosive underwater thriller. from 101 Films, is the first time it has been released on Bluray in the UK and The Daily Jaws were lucky enough to get their hands on a copy, which includes extras new to this edition.
David Sanders (Nick Nolte) and Gail Berke (Jacqueline Bisset) are on a diving holiday in Bermuda hunting for sunken treasure, but get more than they bargained for when come across 98,000 viles of morphine in a sunken World War 2 freighter. They then seek out the help of grizzled treasure hunter Romer Treece, played with more than a hint of Quint by Robert Shaw. There's also great support from Eli Wallach and future Jaws 3D star, Louis Gossett Jr, as a Haitian drug dealer after their discovery and will stop at nothing to get it, even if it costs them their lives.
It all unfolds at a leisurely pace, you kind of let it wash over you, with lingering underwater scenes - we don't get any dialogue for almost nine minutes at the start- interjected with some exciting moments, such as a brutal scene where Bisset is nearly trapped underwater, an almost Hitchcockian external lift fight, that moray eel, a tense scooter scene and a claustrophobic ticking bomb clock finale. We even get a rare cinematic outing for cricket, that wraps around a nice scene between Shaw and Gossett Jr.
There's also a great, tense shark feeding frenzy sequence, with one shark even getting tangled in an air line. At times it feels like you are watching a documentary, and the underwater scenes are genuinely mesmerising and look fantastic on Bluray.
However, The Deep was never Jaws, but neither was it really ever trying to be. It is glorious to look at, especially the underwater photography in HD. At times it almost seems like you are watching a James Bond film with all the underwater antics, a sumptuous score by regular Bond composer John Barry doesn't hurt things.
The deleted scenes are really interesting, it's a shame the original opening showing the sinking of the Goliath, also featuring Shaw and Wallach's sons as their younger selves and a cameo from Peter Benchley, was cut. It's very effective and worth viewing them for that alone.
Many of these deleted scenes - which run to around 35 minutes - add more depth (no pun intended) to the film. It is just a shame that they aren't the full 53 extra minutes as seen in the US TV version or that this version of the film can't be branched off and included in the main feature as an extra.
There is also a commentary from film expert John Lyons, whilst although not scene specific, does go over the careers of those involved in The Deep, so throws up a few interesting facts. It plays more like a fact filled podcast. Here's 25 facts we gleaned from that commentary: https://thedailyjaws.com/blog/25-amazing-facts-you-need-to-know-about-the-deep
Aside from the extra scenes my favourite extra has to be the making of The Deep hosted and narrated by none other than Robert Shaw himself. It's full of great behind the scenes footage and interviews and tons of Robert Shaw talking on set in Bermuda. Which can never be a bad thing.
The treasure trove of extras includes:
A really rather lovely Cinema Retro mini-magazine: The Deep 'Film in Focus' Special
Commentary with film critic Kevin Lyons (NEW)
Interview with Underwater Art Director Terry Ackland-Snow (NEW)
The Making of the Deep
Select Scenes from the 3 hour Special Edition
The Deep is lovely to look at, but despite its treasure hunting storyline the action is intermitent. The three leads carry it off and help keep things interesting. It brought back lots of memories back and the underwater scenes look great on Bluray.
Those new to The Deep may find the pacing a bit sluggish, but when it delivers it doesn't let you go. It's genuienly an intriguing story, just don't expect Jaws.
3/5 for newbies, 4/5 for those that loved it the first time around. For many it will be an essential Robert Shaw purchase.
Written by Dean Newman
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‘The Deep’ is released on blu-ray by 101 Films on 14th September 2020 - link below:
