{
  "id": 289102,
  "title": "‘Above & Below’: a gripping premise that never quite surfaces",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/above-below-a-gripping-premise-that-never-quite-surfaces",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/08/above-below-a-gripping-premise-that-never-quite-surfaces"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the survival thriller \"Above & Below,\" a group of five friends embarks on a shark cage-diving excursion in Mexico, only to be caught between ruthless criminals and hungry sharks. The film, starring Antonio Banderas and Laura Marano, follows the friends as they fight for survival amidst chaos and danger. Banderas delivers a compelling performance as Estaban Burns, the film's main antagonist, while Marano portrays the group's resilient leader, Tatiana. The premise of the movie has all the ingredients for a gripping survival thriller, with tense scenes of being trapped underwater and high-stakes drama. However, the uneven pacing and lack of character development leave viewers wishing more had been done with the compelling concept. The film's biggest disappointment is the underutilisation of one of its biggest selling points, the sharks, with the criminals receiving more screen time than the creatures many viewers likely purchased a ticket to see. Overall, while \"Above & Below\" may not be among the most memorable entries in the genre, it is still worth watching for strong performances from Banderas and Marano.",
  "summary": "Antonio Banderas and Laura Marano star in this survival thriller that delivers flashes of suspense but does not fully realise its potential.",
  "key_points": [
    "Five friends go shark cage diving in Mexico.",
    "Antonio Banderas plays ruthless criminal Estaban Burns.",
    "Laura Marano leads group as resilient Tatiana."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The underwhelming execution of a promising premise in \"Above & Below\" means viewers are left with a forgettable film despite strong performances from its lead actors.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}