Trailers
Description
A Russian missile submarine disappears without trace during a secret mission in the Greenland Sea. A vessel is deployed to search for it, captained by the brother of the missing submarine’s commander. The search crew is tasked with locating the submarine and preventing a top-secret weapon from falling into enemy hands. Meanwhile, a geological research operation at the North Pole awakens the Kraken, a giant deep-water monster with an incredible ability to camouflage and an uncanny intelligence. As the search party narrows in on the missing submarine, they will encounter the legendary creature of the deep.
Starring
Awards
Key opinion
Kraken is a visually ambitious Russian submarine thriller that succeeds in creating a claustrophobic atmosphere, though it is frequently undermined by a cluttered script and derivative storytelling. While the technical craft and cinematography are widely praised, critics are divided over whether the film functions effectively as a kaiju monster movie or an overstuffed, cliché-ridden drama.
| Cinematography | The cinematography and visual style effectively capture the claustrophobic and tense environment of submarine life. | |
| Originality | The film fails to offer a fresh perspective, relying heavily on derivative tropes and plot structures borrowed from Hollywood blockbusters. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is overstuffed with unnecessary subplots, including a forced romance and disjointed family drama that dilute the main narrative. | |
| Originality | Opinions on the creature's presentation are divided; some appreciate the restrained, suspenseful use of shadows and tentacles, while others feel the Kraken lacks screen time and impact. | |
| Acting | The quality of the acting is a point of contention, with some viewers finding the performances authentic and grounded, while others perceive them as flat or poorly suited for the genre. | |
| Production | The CGI quality is inconsistent, earning praise for its scale while facing criticism for looking unconvincing and derivative in specific sequences. |