Survive (2024)

🎬 General Information

• Title: Survive (original French title: Survivre)

• Director: Frédéric Jardin

• Writers: Alexandre Coquelle & Mathieu Oullion

• Language: English (with a French production)

• Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller, Disaster, Creature Feature

• Runtime: Approximately 90 minutes

🧭 Plot Summary

1. Birthday at Sea

The story begins with Tom, a marine scientist, celebrating his son Ben’s 13th birthday on a yacht in the Caribbean, along with his wife Julia and teenage daughter Cassie. During the celebration, Julia nearly drowns in a mysterious whirlpool, but Tom saves her.

2. Sudden Cataclysm

That night, a violent global catastrophe occurs: satellites crash, a powerful storm hits, and by morning, the sea has vanished. The family wakes to find their yacht stranded on an endless dry seabed where the ocean used to be. It’s revealed that a magnetic pole reversal has shifted the oceans inland, leaving the seabed exposed.

3. Searching for Answers

Tom figures out that the Earth’s magnetic poles have flipped, drastically altering gravity and geography. They make radio contact with Nao, a submarine pilot, who confirms their fears and warns that another pole reversal may soon bring the ocean back.

4. A Dangerous Encounter

While trying to survive, the family meets a hostile stranger with a dog. During a tense standoff, Tom is killed while defending his family. This traumatic event forces Julia to take charge and lead her children across the dry ocean floor toward safety.

5. Unseen Terrors

As the trio travels through this surreal landscape, they are attacked by giant, deep-sea crabs that have surfaced now that the ocean is gone. These monstrous creatures pose a terrifying new threat, adding horror to their already perilous journey.

6. A Race Against Time

Julia, Cassie, and Ben attempt to reach Nao’s submarine before the ocean returns. In one dramatic scene, Julia sacrifices herself to ensure her children’s escape, but Cassie later returns to save her. Together, they reunite and board the sub.

7. Final Escape

Inside the sub, the family faces one final wave of danger as the crabs attack and the water begins to flood back in. Nao is killed, but the family survives by staying inside the sub as the sea reclaims the earth.

🧩 Key Themes

• Survival & Family Bonds: The emotional heart of the movie is the bond between Julia and her children, and how far she’s willing to go to protect them.

• Disaster and Isolation: The disappearance of the sea creates a visually striking and haunting setting that highlights the fragility of human life.

• Science Meets Horror: While the magnetic pole shift is scientifically exaggerated, it sets up a compelling stage for the creature attacks and isolation.

• Monsters from the Deep: The appearance of deep-sea creatures on land adds a horror twist that distinguishes the film from typical disaster dramas.

🎭 Critical Reception (Summary)

• The film has received mixed to positive reviews.

• Many critics praise its visuals and surreal atmosphere, calling it unique for a low-budget disaster film.

• Some find its scientific premise implausible, and the tone occasionally uneven.

• The creature feature element (giant crabs) is a highlight, adding tension and unexpected thrills.

• The emotional focus on family and survival gives the story heart, even if the characters are somewhat underdeveloped.

🎯 Conclusion

Survive (2024) is a bold and visually captivating sci-fi thriller that blends disaster survival, emotional family drama, and creature horror. Its surreal premise—oceans vanishing due to a magnetic pole shift—creates a memorable backdrop, while deep-sea monsters and emotional stakes keep the tension high. Though not without flaws, it offers a fresh take on the genre and delivers a tight, tense, and thought-provoking experience.