The seas have long been happy hunting grounds for treasure seekers and explorers. Our maritime history and a number of wars resulted in the ocean floors becoming repositories of rich bounties for enterprising buccaneers. However, whilst there’s money to be made, there’s also dangers lurking above and below the waves. Whilst these opportunities are limited today, only a few decades ago there was much more freedom. This is the case in Peter Yates’ 1977 film, The Deep.
Whilst vacationing in Bermuda, David (Nick Nolte) and Gail (Jacqueline Bisset) do a spot of scuba diving near a wreck and recover a number of artefacts. Amongst them are an ancient medallion and a vial of strange liquid. The couple go and see Robert Trees (Robert Shaw), a local treasure hunter and historian, to seek his help. They team up to recover the loot but have to deal with the nefarious attentions of a local drug baron, Cloche (Louis Gossett Jr.), who wants it for himself.
Whilst the plotting of The Deep might push the boundaries of believability a little, there’s no denying that the action is impressively done. Indeed, the underwater sequences are some of the best I’ve seen and easily the highlight of what is an entertaining action film. It’s perhaps a tad too long but there’s no doubting the quality of the cast or how tense the ending is. You’ll not regret diving into the choppy waters of The Deep.
Extras:
- The Making of the Deep
- Select Scenes from the three-hour Special Edition
- Cinema Retro mini magazine
- Commentary with film critic Kevin Lyons
- Interview with Underwater Art Director Terry Ackland-Snow
The Deep is released on Blu-ray by 101 Films on 14 September.
