By Terry Sherwood
In a market saturated with low-effort shark thrillers, Fear Below is a rare breed—sharp, stylish, and pulsing with tension from start to finish. It’s a film we’re proud to have directed, not just because of its visceral thrills, but because it moves with purpose, features rich, layered characters, and treats its genre with pulpy genuine respect. Director Matthew Holmes who penned the script with Greg Moss is right on par with Michael Curtiz for story telling savvy, action, pace , working with actors coupled with a superb crew.
Set in 1946, in the aftermath of World War II, Fear Below follows a trio of hard-luck divers enlisted by a group of well-dressed criminals to retrieve a sunken van from a crocodile-infested Australian river. The job sounds simple: get in, get the van, get out. But the van is full of stolen gold, and the divers—unknowing pawns—have been marked as expendable from the start.
From the opening moments, we aimed to establish a world where the heat, danger, and desperation are tangible. This isn’t glossy, airbrushed adventure—it’s sweaty, sunburnt survival, where every dive could be the last and every glance might hide betrayal. The story unfolds with the taut energy of a thriller, yet it’s grounded in real anxieties: economic trouble, social tension, and moral problems.
The characters are the engine of the film. Jimmy (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) is a presence—a skilled Aboriginal diver navigating not just physical danger, but the daily grind of systemic racism in 1940s Australia. He’s not a sidekick, but a central figure especially when using his language.
Clara, played by Hermione Corfield, is smart, capable, and emotionally complex—a woman haunted by her past and trying to forge a new path in a harsh world. Corfield brings vulnerability, attitude in equal measure. She steps up when called upon in the story and even when not making her a welcome addition to not being a “Final Girl’ reduced to a bloodied tank top.
Arthur Angel’s role as Ernie is the broken heart of the crew: a washed-up diver seeking one last chance at redemption. His performance gives the film weight, while Jake Ryan’s portrayal of Dylan “Bull” Maddock looking a bit like James Gandolfini injects it with cold menace. Josh McConville as the mustached henchman Janusz Wojcik is brilliant with his eyes his cold blooded and great delivery in the spirit of a sadistic Donald Pleasence
Fear Below never rushes. It builds pressure slowly, letting the river’s secrets and the characters’ motives surface at just the right moment. When the action hits, it works very well.
The shark—an enormous, pregnant bull shark—is more felt than shown for most of the runtime. When the shark does appear, it’s quick, brutal, and terrifying—exactly as it should be.
Fear Below is a story about what gold does to people much like John Huston’ s The Treasure of Sierra Madra with Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt. Wealth is a cursed prize, one that turns everyone who reaches for it a little darker, a little more dangerous.
The Australian landscape more than just a backdrop. It’s a character in its own right—dry, unforgiving, and beautiful. The red earth, murky water, and choking heat are all part of the film’s texture. The period detail with costuming to production design are lovely without being showy or overwhelming The musical score, a mix of slide guitar and menace, keeps the tension going
Fear Below is the genre of filmmaking with heart and skill. It’s a survival thriller, yes—but it’s also a character study, a period piece, and a commentary on greed.
Fear Below is available now on digital platforms and will be released on physical media on 9 June 2025.
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