Renny Harlin's Deep Blue Sea

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Renny Harlin’s gloriously ridiculous, surprisingly good 1999 shark thriller, Deep Blue Sea. We talk genetically modified super-smart sharks, questionable science, the ethics of experimenting on animals, the film’s connections to Jaws and Jurassic Park and whether the sharks are actually the villains, or prisoners staging an elaborate escape from “Alcatraz for sharks”. Expect discussion of Samuel L. Jackson’s legendary mid-speech demise, Stellan Skarsgård’s extraordinarily no good very bad day, Thomas Jane’s unexplained shark-wrangling skills, whether Saffron Burrows deserved her fate, and Michael Rapaport’s unconvincing claim that he spent four years at Caltech. And let’s not forget about sharks who can read blueprints, recognise guns and cameras, predict mechanical failures, and operate ovens. Perhaps most importantly, we also celebrate LL Cool J’s lovable Preacher and his two-egg omelette philosophy. Content & Spoiler Warning: Severed limbs, bloody injuries, a character deliberately slicing open her palm, prolonged underwater sequences and breath-holding, claustrophobia, shark attacks, people being eaten, a parrot being eaten, animal experimentation and captivity, sharks being killed, including one being stabbed in the eye, and discussion of dementia and dying with dignity. And of course we will be spoiling Deep Blue Sea, including one of the movie’s most famous and shocking deaths. So go see it! Palate Cleanser: Hacks Season 5  (though trigger warning for anyone affected by terminal illness) The TikTok empty chair trend:  “When Netflix calls me for a documentary about…”  Sheep Detectives if you want to laugh, cry, and laugh so hard you cry.  Recommendations: For More Deep Blue Sea and Shark Talk: Deep Blue Sea: The Podcast -if one movie simply is not enough and you would like an hour of discussion for every few minutes of Deep Blue Sea. Evolution of Horror has an episode on Deep Blue Sea. How Did This Get Made? is a must listen to get the origin for Stellar Skateboard. See Jurassic Right with Steven Ray Morris for episodes interviewing shark scientists  The Chris Hemsworth and Anthony Mackie shark documentaries on Disney, especially if you like the idea of Chris Hemsworth surfing and staring pensively at the Australian ocean.  Toys and Lip Sync Battle for Tom Holland performing “Umbrella” for more LL Cool J.  Andor and Good Will Hunting because of Stellen Skarsgard The Mist, The Punisher, and Arrested Development for more Thomas Jayne. You Season 3 – the best season stars Saffron Burrows.  The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See - historical fiction about the matriarchal society of Korean divers who can really hold their breath for a long time The Exorcist – for crucifix clutching For Survival, Disaster & Nature Trying to Kill You: Yellowjackets Alive The Perfect Storm Titanic The Poseidon Adventure The Rich Man’s House FantasticLand Stranded by Nikki Shannon Smith - a middle-grade survival novel about a Black girl from New York who loves nature despite pushback from her family and friends. Chef and The Bear – for Chefs Homework: In keeping with the episode’s themes of neuroscience and science crossing ethical boundaries, the next discussion will focus Season 1 of Dr. Death, the TV miniseries starring Joshua Jackson, Christian Slater and Alec Baldwin. And remember: Don’t genetically modify apex predators to make them smarter. Don’t stand too close to the edge of a shark tank. Don’t dangle your feet in shark-infested water. Don’t slice open your palm when you need blood.And, most importantly, do not put milk in your omelette.  Special thanks to Nancy Azano for the podcast cover art. Find her on Instagram at @nancyazano. Thanks also to Harry Kidd for the opening and closing music. Find him on Instagram at @harryjkidd and on Spotify.