Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
In order to save Paris from an international bloodbath, a grieving scientist is forced to face her tragic past when a giant shark appears in the Seine.
Under Paris is a French creature feature that earns points for its striking premise—a great white shark terrorizing the Seine during a triathlon—and for some genuinely atmospheric underwater cinematography in the Paris catacombs and river. The novelty of setting a shark horror film in the heart of Paris, complete with environmental messaging and catacombs mythology, gives it a distinctive identity above typical B-movie fare. However, the plot leans heavily on genre clichés—the grieving scientist reluctant to return, authorities ignoring warnings, mass carnage at a public event—executed without much sophistication. The acting is serviceable but rarely elevates the thin characterization. The ending, which goes for an audacious escalation, tips into absurdity that undercuts rather than satisfies, feeling more chaotic than boldly conceived.