The Observer’s reviewer took issue with the science behind The Meg and it didn’t end well for anyone
In the long history of dumb summer blockbusters, Jason Statham’s The Meg is, well, another dumb summer blockbuster, making Deep Blue Sea look like something fronted by David Attenborough.
But the Observer’s reviewer took issue with its plot, suggesting that the story of a 70ft prehistoric shark, or megalodon, coming back to life after millions of years imprisoned under an icy barrier of hydrogen sulphide in an ocean realm deeper than the Mariana Trench just wasn’t, you know, believable enough.
Not the biggest shark ever coming back to life bit, no. Other stuff.
Here’s what the review had to say.
Science is definitely the loser in a film that posits that a massive prehistoric shark the size of an oligarch’s yacht can zoom up to surface level from a depth of more than 10,000 meters and not explode into shark tartare from the change in pressure. There are other questions. If it exists in the permanent inky blackness of deep sea, why does it have eyes? Why is it attracted to a recording of whale song when it can’t possibly have encountered a whale at the depth at which it lives?
Except, well, it’s a dumb summer blockbuster, isn’t it? These 4 reader comments pretty much nail it.
1.
‘Apparently this movie lacks scientific accuracy. Which will be a massive let down to the millions of Marvel, Jurassic park, DC and Alien fans who have been led to expect nothing but peer-reviewed cutting edge scientific research-based detail in every scene. Probably no-one will go.’
2.
‘However, just in case anyone wants to know…
a massive prehistoric shark the size of an oligarch’s yacht can zoom up to surface level from a depth of more than 10,000 meters and not explode into shark tartare from the change in pressure.
It might have problems if it came straight up at full speed, but otherwise probably wouldn’t. Greenland and sleeper sharks are known to roam from surface level down to at least 2,000 metres, and the pressure at 2,000 metres is already 200 atmospheres.
There are other questions. If it exists in the permanent inky blackness of deep sea, why does it have eyes? Why is it attracted to a recording of whale song when it can’t possibly have encountered a whale at the depth at which it lives?
Megalodon (the real one) is known to have eaten whales, and frequented shallow waters over continental shelves. I assume the daft story is that it somehow got trapped at that depth (details to be announced in the sequel, reality need not apply).’
3.
‘Literally can’t believe I’m doing this, but Wendy Ide’s incredulity is mistaken.
First, all known species of deep sea shark have eyes. The existence of bioluminescence make eye-having a continued advantage for predators.
Second, sharks don’t have swim bladders and therefore no gas pocket that could expand with unfortunate results due to pressure changes
Third, sharks have a lateral line and use the tiny pressure changes that it can detect to hunt potential food. That means sound waves (like a whale song) tend to attract them.
Fourth, it’s a summer action movie. Let’s not lose sight of that.
I also didn’t know deep water biology had laws. I can imagine there’d be something about having a very slow metabolism in cold and biologically deficient depths, but let’s assume that there was an alternative and rich ecosystem on the underside of the hydrogen sulfide thermocline that allowed our Meg to stay relatively perky.
Seriously, I can’t believe I’m doing this.’
4.
‘the reviewers concerns regarding credibility are;
1 that it lives in the deep but rises to the shallows
2 that it has eyes
3 that it likes whales
??????????’
