The Devil’s Mouth Review
Summer and shark thrillers have become the perfect pairing, with audiences always eager for another suspense-filled survival story set in open water. While the genre has seen countless entries over the years, there’s still an undeniable appeal to watching a group of unsuspecting characters battle nature’s most feared predator.
Prime Video’s The Devil’s Mouth hopes to make a splash with a talented ensemble cast, including Kathryn Newton (Ready or Not 2: Here I Come), Lana Condor (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Nico Hiraga (Sweethearts), Gavin Casalegno (The Summer I Turned Pretty), Tommi Rose (Sweet Magnolias), and Tayme Thapthimthong (The White Lotus).
The film follows five college friends embarking on one last adventure in Thailand before moving on with their lives, but a guided swim through the remote Devil’s Mouth submerged cave turns into a fight for survival. After a storm floods the cave and traps a deadly bull shark inside, the group must navigate rising waters and a relentless predator hunting them in the darkness.
The journey to the cave is deeply personal for Sara (Newton), whose recently deceased father serves as the inspiration behind the trip. Having visited the caves himself, he viewed the experience as a defining moment in his life. Sara believes retracing his steps will help her feel closer to him and preserve the memories they shared.
From the beginning, The Devil’s Mouth positions Sara as the emotional outsider of the group. With Greg (Casalegno) and Adrienne (Rose) together, and James (Hiraga) and Max (Condor) as the other couple, Sara is the only one without a partner, leaving her on the outside of their dynamic. This is emphasized when the others accidentally leave her behind in the water as the boat moves on without her, suggesting that Sara has felt separated from the group long before their survival situation begins.
Watt (Thapthimthong), the group’s cave tour guide, presents two routes: one safe and straightforward, the other more difficult and dangerous. In typical horror movie fashion, Max and the others insist on taking the riskier path. While the decision may feel predictable, it also reinforces the film’s theme of curiosity and recklessness. Thapthimthong isn’t featured heavily throughout the film, but he brings a strong presence to the scenes he is in despite his limited screen time.
One aspect I appreciated about The Devil’s Mouth is that it avoids relying on the genre’s usual great white shark, opting instead for a different predator. Most shark movies use great whites as the human-killing predator, so it was refreshing to see the film focus on bull sharks instead. Bull sharks are just as dangerous, and because they spend so much time in shallow coastal waters, they’re actually more likely to encounter people. It was a nice change of pace to see another deadly species get the spotlight.
While The Devil’s Mouth isn’t the goriest shark film out there (and one of its deaths doesn’t even involve the shark), it doesn’t need excessive bloodshed to be effective. Instead, the film relies on suspense, tension, and the confined setting to keep you invested. Director Jeff Wadlow effectively captures the claustrophobic terror of the cave environment, using tight framing and immersive visuals to make audiences feel trapped alongside the group. The film’s atmospheric approach also creates a sense of dread that may leave viewers thinking twice before ever exploring a similar cave themselves.
The Devil’s Mouth is a solid shark thriller that knows how to balance its lighter moments with genuine horror. The film begins with a relaxed, adventurous tone before quickly plunging into a claustrophobic fight for survival. Supported by a likable cast, it delivers plenty of thrills without taking itself too seriously. Fans of creature features looking for an enjoyable summer movie will find The Devil’s Mouth to be a fun, suspenseful ride that makes great use of its underwater setting.
Rating: ★★★½
The Devil’s Mouth is streaming on Prime Video.
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