Deep Blue Sea, the 1999 cult classic, was a thrilling mix of horror, sci-fi, and shark-infested action. Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J, and director Renny Harlin share insights into the unforgettable production, detailing the challenges, the chaos, and the memorable moments that made the film one of its kind.
Samuel L. Jackson: A Dramatic and Wet Death
Samuel L. Jackson, who portrayed CEO Russell Franklin, always dreamed of a big death scene. “I’d always wanted to be killed in a movie by something big that was chasing me,” he said. Having missed out on a death scene in Jurassic Park due to a hurricane, Jackson jumped at the chance when Renny Harlin offered him a role in a killer shark movie. “When Renny told me he was making a horror film with killer sharks, and I was going to be the first person to die, I said: ‘Great!'” Jackson added.
Filming, however, proved to be more intense than he expected. “I had no idea I was going to be as wet as I was,” Jackson reflected. “I was in water for a month. It was kind of wild.” The storm scenes were particularly challenging, with water being poured on actors from towers, creating massive waves. “The rehearsals were very different,” he said, recalling how they weren’t prepared for the sheer amount of water that would be involved. “After Stellan Skarsgård has his arm bitten off, and we’re out on the deck trying to get him on the helicopter, we didn’t know they were going to throw that much water at us.”
Jackson also had a unique perspective on his character’s fate. “Usually, in movies like that, all the black people get killed early,” he noted, referencing his early demise in Jurassic Park. “But in Deep Blue Sea, LL Cool J is the last one alive. That felt like a small victory.”
Renny Harlin: The Director’s View on Chaos and Sharks
Renny Harlin, the mastermind behind Deep Blue Sea, drew inspiration from films like Alien and The Poseidon Adventure. “We shot it with the water tanks that had been built for Titanic at Baja Studios in Mexico,” Harlin explained. The crew worked in massive water tanks, where sets could be submerged on hydraulic platforms. But, as the production wore on, things got less glamorous. “By the second week, the water tank had become a giant pool of urine,” Harlin admitted, laughing at the crew’s growing discomfort as they spent hours in cold wetsuits.
Despite the challenges, Harlin was determined to make the sharks as realistic as possible. “We wanted the sharks on screen,” he said. CGI was still in its early stages in 1999, but they used it to create some attack scenes. However, Harlin also had physical sharks built for the film. “A company in San Francisco built us fully remote-controlled sharks,” he revealed. “The big one had a 1,000-horsepower engine and must have weighed a ton.” While it was impressive, it also posed a threat to the crew, with everyone needing to be cautious around the massive creature.
Changes, Surprises, and a Test Audience’s Reaction
The film’s original ending, which saw Saffron Burrows’ character Susan survive, was met with mixed reactions during test screenings. “Hundreds of test cards came back saying Susan deserved to be punished,” Harlin said. “Her genetic engineering had caused the sharks to become smarter, leading to all the chaos.” The backlash prompted a swift change in direction, with a quick round of reshoots and visual effects to give the film a new conclusion: LL Cool J’s character became the hero, and Susan met her demise.
“LL Cool J also wrote a song to play over the end credits,” Harlin noted. “I even directed the video, which is something I don’t usually do.” Fans also got a kick out of the foul-mouthed parrot that was eaten by a shark in the final moments—an unexpected twist that added humor to the chaos.
A Legacy in 4K
As Deep Blue Sea makes its way to 4K UHD and Blu-ray, fans can relive the wild ride that mixed deadly sharks with unforgettable moments and a strong cast. From Jackson’s surprising death to the evolution of CGI in horror films, Deep Blue Sea remains a cult classic that’s still making waves.
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