The Devil’s Mouth didn’t reinvent the shark movie genre. But it sure kept me hooked because of how much I loved to hate Lana Condor’s character Max. It also sets up some complex dynamics that make you reflect on your own friend group and how things would go down if you were put in a tense situation like this one. And they did it with a young cast that is really blowing up in Hollywood, so you’re going to get people watching no matter what.
Keeping that in mind, Sara did frustrate me BY NOT USING THAT KNIFE EARLIER! And I believe that the movie would’ve been more well-rounded and refreshing if more than one person survived and not just the pretty blonde girl. But at least I learned that yes, bull sharks can survive in fresh water. So I’m not going into any bodies of water anytime soon.
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The Way That I Hate Max
I want to preface this by saying that I love Lana Condor. My first experience with her was in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and its sequels. And I liked her in Moonshot and Boo Bitch. Keeping that in mind, I hate Max with a passion and I kept watching this movie because I wanted the shark to get her sooooo bad. And that right there, that duality to make me love her in one movie and then hate her in another, is what makes her a phenomenal actress.
Max was selfish, self-centered, didn’t trust anyone’s opinions or plans, and she bulldozed over everyone. What makes it even worse is that she wasn’t inherently an evil character. She just didn’t trust anyone as much as she trusted herself. So that made it that she never could see when she was wrong and had a really hard time apologizing or trusting in the people that she’s asking to trust her. This led to a lot of her friends dying and her looking to be absolved of her guilt till the very last moment.
Back to the acting of it all.
There’s a difference between hating a character because of bad writing and hating a character because the actor did such a good job. And I hated Condor’s character because despite the so-so writing, Condor sold it. And I personally love when an actor does such a good job with a character, that everything that they’ve done before melts away, and you only see this character in front of you. I no longer was looking at Lara Jean when I was watching The Devil’s Mouth. I was seeing Max. And I couldn’t wait for her to die.
So kudos to you, Lana Condor. You disappeared into that character and delivered an experience while making me hate your character in a way that only few actors have done before.
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Sara is a Problem Too
The main reason why I loved The Devil’s Mouth is because of Condor’s acting. But another huge part of that love was due to how she wasn’t the only problematic one.
Kathryn Newton’s Sara also was problematic in how she let her friend bulldoze her in every facet of her life, past, present, and future. And this isn’t me victim blaming. This is me saying that Sara had an unhealthy dynamic with Max and probably let her friend take control because it was easier in a way. And that was put to the test in a brutal way where Sara ended up standing up for herself and growing past Max, while Max remained the same person to the very end.
Now from the very start, the kind of movie that we were being given when it came to The Devil’s Mouth, clearly put Sara in the final girl category. But within that space, her friendship with Max wasn’t just a side adventure of this story. It was the core of The Devil’s Mouth. It was a plot point that almost felt bigger than surviving the shark hunting them through those caves. And it’s because of this that a part of me wished Max survived.
I know you just heard me go on and on about hating Max but hear me out. If The Devil’s Mouth is about friendship and the bond that Max and Sara shared, then a part of me feels like it would’ve also worked if Max trusted Sara and had a personal growth journey of her own. Then they both could’ve made it out, the power of friendship saving them, and continuing their journey with the “til the stars go out” motto holding them together.
Basically as much as I love the messiness of Max and how Sara found her voice, this movie could’ve been stronger if sisterhood was the framing.
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Can We Talk About That Knife?
The Devil’s Mouth continuously painted this picture of Sara being ready and then underutilized her.
A part of me gets why the movie did this, especially because it was about Sara finding her voice instead of letting Max take the reins because it was easier. At the same time, when things started to go south with the shark of it all, she’s the one who started being proactive, even if Max was overbearing. Like when Adrienne got hurt, she jumped up to take care of her wounds. Also earlier in the movie they talked about how she was basically always prepared like a good girl scout would be.
So why didn’t she use the tape around her hand to make sure she didn’t lose her grip on the knife and stab the shark when he was clearly stuck in that archway?! Or just anytime before using it on that rock and then freeing herself from the rope dragging her down?! Because I know I’m supposed to suspend belief because it’s a shark movie, but they’re pushing it with this glaring bit here.
The misuse of the knife feels like Chekhov’s gun. It’s an element that is teased early on and that you assume will be used against the foe tearing these young people apart. But it was never used against the shark. Instead it’s used on a rock that then crushes the shark. And that right there is anticlimatic. Thank God we had Max and her everything to cheer against because without her, I know I wouldn’t have loved this movie as much.
Other Thoughts about The Devil’s Mouth
- Despite the little time we got with Tommi Rose’s Adrienne and her boyfriend Greg (Gavin Casalegno), I really liked how they understood each other and how they had that little mantra when it came to his aversion to blood. It showed respect and something that went beyond the archetype shark movies like to build when it comes to the couple in the group who is always getting frisky with each other. There’s depth to these two.
- Also really liked how Adrienne was the one who noticed that Sara wasn’t on the boat and comforted her at the dinner table after things got awkward.
- Truly think that the guide shouldn’t have died. It would have been more interesting if they left him getting possible help as a dangling plot longer.
- How is Sara going to get down that cliff face?! Also, was the storm surge so high that the shark got up through there?!
- Seeing all those jellyfish flock together gives me more reason to never go in the ocean again. Not my place or my business.
- Knowing how much work went into this movie, and the young talent within it, I would love to see a behind-the-scenes featurette about how they did all of this, especially because they’re on location.
- Also did you know that Lana Condor spent so much time in the water that when it came time to take a shower, she didn’t want to because it just meant more water?
- Should Sara have been in freshwater after those jellyfish stings? Someone let me know because I wouldn’t let me having fun be more important than making sure that my friend being in discomfort. But also I wouldn’t want to be in discomfort myself and would’ve just stayed at the hotel.
- That shark really did Greg dirty. He heard that Greg didn’t like blood and then he just slammed him around over and over and made sure he was torn up.
- Adrienne was a real one that went after Greg even though she was facing a shark as well. Makes me wonder what she would’ve done if she had the knife?!
- I also think it would have been more interesting if James (Nico Hiraga) had survived alongside Max and Sara. He just had a really interesting dynamic with both of these young women. And I think he balanced them out. Plus it would’ve broken the shark movie mold if multiple people survived. Just saying.
The Devil’s Mouth is now available on Prime Video.
Love this piece, Lyra. Really thoughtful and insightful. Thanks for the kind words, I’ll pass them on to Lana! Jeff Wadlow, Devil’s Mouth Director
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. Really really appreciate it. And yes, I hope Lana likes what I wrote. She really did such an amazing job! >.<