No Way Up (2024)

Director: Claudio Fäh

Starring: Sophie McIntosh, Will Attenborough, Jeremias Amoore

Characters from different backgrounds are thrown together when the plane they’re travelling on crashes into the Pacific Ocean. A nightmare fight for survival ensues with the air supply running out and dangers creeping in from all sides.

Ava is going on vacation with her boyfriend Jed, and friend Kyle. Ava is the daughter of a famous politician, so her bodyguard Brandon travels with them.

Shortly after hitting a flock of birds, the plane crashes into the ocean. As the plane sinks to a rock base, the survivors are trapped in an air pocket. Now, they risk running out of oxygen, and – as they soon discover – have to brave shark attacks.

‘No Way Up’ has a simple premise. This is a survival story set against impossible odds. There are no plot twists or intricate back stories. It is a story of hope – in a low budget kind of way. Although I didn’t find the acting all that convincing, I did enjoy the characters and rooted for all of them. There were no annoying arrogant or comic relief characters, and I enjoyed the way the characters stood together in the face of danger.

The visuals are not the greatest, but I thought the sharks were scary enough to send a chill down my spine. ‘No Way Up’ also is not the greatest disaster – or horror – movie by a long mile, but I kinda enjoyed it. In fact, this was actually not bad at all, considering its budgetary constraints.

Would I watch it again? I don’t know; maybe.