Crawl

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JASON

Movies that strive to combine outlandish backstory with a dramatic plot can quickly become an exercise in futility, failing to appeal or connect with audiences. But, against all odds, Crawl stands out as an exception, managing to deliver an intense, gripping, and entertaining thriller that fully lives up to its promises. By emphasizing the action, the suspense, and the grit, and underpinned by an impressive directorial performance by Alexandre Aja, this movie offers an unforgettable cinematic experience that leaves the audience on the edge of their seats.
Kaya Scodelario gives a formidable performance in the lead role of Hailey, who is a competitive college swimmer from the University of Florida. She drives into a category 5 hurricane to search for her father, whom she finds trapped in a crawl space under their old home, surrounded by giant, bloodthirsty alligators. Time is running out, and Hailey must act fast to extricate her father from the predators' grip before the floodwaters rise and everything is inundated. A lesser movie would have labored on the character's backstory or tried to squeeze in more melodrama, but Crawl nimbly avoids those pitfalls, placing the emphasis on one aspect - survival.
Director Alexandre Aja paints a mesmerizing, visual imagery of a crumbling world around the characters in the midst of an impending natural disaster. The CGI-generated alligators are genuinely menacing, heightening the tension as Hailey creeps around them, searching for a way to get her father out. Amid the chaos and suspense, the movie also subtly touches on themes of redemption, familial bonds, and inner strength in the face of adversity.
At just an hour and 27 minutes long, Crawl's brevity is one of its strong points, wasting not a moment in getting to the heart of the action. The pacing is tight, ensuring that the audience remains engrossed without ever getting bored. It may not be a perfect movie, but it delivers precisely what it promised, and that's all one can ask for a films like these.
However, it wouldn't be fair to discuss Crawl without mentioning the acting. Kaya Scodelario's performance is outstanding, conveying raw emotion as she navigates through the alligator-infested waters. Barry Pepper, who plays Hailey's father, gives a surprisingly nuanced portrayal of a father seeking forgiveness from his estranged daughter.
Overall, Crawl is an impressive and exhilarating thriller that packs a solid punch. Alexandre Aja creates a nerve-wracking atmosphere, and Scodelario proves herself as a leading action star. It may not be an Academy Award-winning movie, but it is genuinely enjoyable and will keep you on the edge of your seats. So if you're looking for a film that exudes action and excitement, then Crawl is definitely worth the watch.

JIGSAW

At long last, a break from endless shark-themed movies is provided by an alligator flick, and after watching the trailers, I was hesitant to see it in a theater. It is only when it became available on Amazon Prime that I gave it a chance. The film started off on a high note, with some terrifying jump scares, and the CGI animation of the alligators was decent. However, all too soon, the characters made some illogical choices that made me feel like the smartest character in the film was the dog. Here are a few examples:
1. After reaching her cell phone, the protagonist stupidly decides to make an open 911 call instead of finding a safe place to hide (not that I was expecting a second alligator).
2. When the cop arrives, why not ask him to shift the furniture blocking the trap door?
3. After fleeing by boat, they end up crashing back into the house.
4. Even after reaching a safe spot on the stairs, the father foolishly ventures into the water to call his dog, who is already swimming to him.
5. Waving a flare through an underwater window, the glass shatters just as the flare passes through.
But, perhaps the most absurd scene occurs when the protagonist swims through the end of a partially-flooded basement's drain pipe that is approximately 20 feet underwater, and yet manages not to be swept away by the raging current. At first, I was enjoying the movie, but as it progressed, I found myself shaking my head in disbelief at the sheer stupidity of the storyline.
In conclusion, Crawl had promising beginnings, with plenty of intensity, but the characters' actions and choices grew increasingly preposterous as the movie progressed. The graphics were fairly decent, and the jump scares were effective. However, the convoluted plot ultimately detracted from the movie's potential, leaving me feeling disappointed. If you're a fan of alligators or horror movies, give it a go, but be forewarned that it may leave you scratching your head.

GHOSTFACE 

Going into a movie theatre without any expectations is often a liberating feeling as it offers a chance to experience something wholly new and fresh. With "Crawl" the payoff was substantial, and I was thrilled at the unexpected performance of Kaya Scodelario, who carried the movie on her shoulders (with a little help from the alligators).  The creature's animation was decent, and the way Haley hid and evaded them speaks to clever writing. The high threat intensity of the alligators keeps the audience at the edge of their seats, making it a decent suspense movie.
What struck me the most was the style of the movie, which is akin to a slasher or paranormal movie where the hunter is playing with its prey. Every scene that embodies this was done exceptionally well, taking the tension to a new level.  The movie also made magnificent use of alligator ambush-hunting techniques to produce several jump scares.
What makes for an excellent monster movie are the graphics, and this film did not disappoint me. The CGI animation was fantastic, particularly in the scenes where the alligators were in the water. It's hard to distinguish between practical and CG alligators; that's how well they depicted the creatures. In a thrilling way, Crawl aimed to immerse the audiences with vivid, detailed experiences, including injuries.
However, there were a few problems with the movie, and they start with the dad's portrayal. I absolutely hated his character; he was poorly written, and his inclusion in the subplot was useless. It only served to relieve the tension that was already generated, making his character a waste of screen time. Additionally, the film struggled to capitalize on the protagonist's swimming skills, which were established early on. They were underutilized, and the relevance was insignificant.
Further, some injuries sustained by the characters were not adequately represented, and the actions they took, despite being injured, were physically impossible. For example, the glass door, sound effects, bad physics, and the alligator's behavior showed little research done to depict them accurately.
As someone who knows and has lived in areas where alligators are found, I know how they look and hunt. The alligators in this movie are overly energetic and crowded, which is not normal behavior. These creatures hunt similar to wolves in the water rather than curious prehistoric monsters portrayed in the film. Alligators examine things, sometimes with their mouth, and when they find a meaty piece, they pull it toward the water and death roll; it's one of three things they do (bite, tail sweep, and roll), but they'll use it when desperate. The point is to either drown the prey or break/rip portions of it off, and in most cases, when an alligator bites something, the chances are that nine out of ten times, the victim is dead.
All in all, "Crawl" started on a high note, with plenty of intensity and jump-scares rolling in. However, the convoluted plot detracts from the initial momentum, leaving a feeling of disappointment. It's still an excellent choice if you're looking to shut your brain off and enjoy a few terrifying moments.

"Crawl" is a 2019 American disaster horror movie about a young woman named Haley, who attempts to save her injured father from a predator-infested hurricane flood zone. The movie, directed by Alexandre Aja, is centered around the Hurricane Event of 2017 in Florida. The film's backdrop is the catastrophic flood zone, and many challenges were faced by the production team during the filming.

The production team made use of innovative problem-solving techniques, such as constructing a massive tank to simulate the flooding caused by the hurricane. The flooded basement scenes were especially challenging, and much of the filming had to be done underwater. The production crew had to work in unison to keep the flooding depth consistent, so the crew had a steady level for filming. Additionally, they made use of strategic water pumps to help them control the water's movement in the "basement" set.

Casting for the film resulted in the discovery of young British actress, Kaya Scodelario, who played the role of the protagonist, Haley. Alongside her was veteran actor, Barry Pepper, who played her father, Dave. Kaya received training to make the swimming scenes and stunt work seem more realistic. She has gone on record to say that this is the most physically demanding role she has ever played, saying that she could never have done it without weeks of rigorous training.

The alligator actors were a mix of CGI and animatronics. Scott Irish, the movie's VFX Supervisor, stated that they used a combination of practical and digital effects. Several different alligator models were developed, including full-sized animatronic alligators, CG models, alligator heads, and leg puppet models. They had to strike a balance between realism and creativity, as the alligators' actions had to match the shot's pacing.

The film's horror genre relied heavily on the sound effect department for delivering the scares. The production team made use of authentic alligator sounds to create a more realistic tone for the movie. The sound effects team made use of different types of recordings to make the film's sound more realistic. For instance, In some scenes, they recorded the alligators' growls and recorded water moving to create a realistic overall sound for the film.

Overall, the production of "Crawl" was an amazing display of teamwork and problem-solving to create this horror movie gem. By combining innovative problem-solving techniques, great acting, an impressive use of special effects, and sound, they created a movie that makes the audience tremble with fear.