🦈 FEAR BELOW (2025) – A Gripping Aussie Shark Thriller That Bites Deep | Release Date, Cast & Plot Details

Boxofficehype
Jul 13
3 min read

🦈 FEAR BELOW (2025): A Gripping Aussie Shark Thriller That Bites Deep

Get ready to dive into danger with Fear Below — the pulse-pounding Australian action-adventure horror film that brings together WWII-era crime, underwater peril, and one seriously territorial bull shark. Directed by Matthew Holmes (The Legend of Ben Hall) and featuring a stellar ensemble cast, Fear Below is set to be Australia’s most intense aquatic thriller in years.

🎬 PREMISE: Gold Runs Deep. Danger Runs Deeper.

Set in post-war 1946 Australia, Fear Below follows the Sea Dog Diving Company — a ragtag crew of professional divers struggling to stay afloat. When they’re hired to recover a sunken van in a murky river, things take a chilling turn.

Lurking beneath the surface is not just the car, but a deadly female bull shark — territorial, relentless, and very hungry. But as the divers battle to survive the beast, they soon discover their employers are a ruthless criminal gang hell-bent on recovering stolen gold bullion from the wreck. What begins as a recovery mission becomes a lethal fight for survival against predators both above and below the surface.

⭐ CAST & CHARACTERS

Hermione Corfield (Sea Fever, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation) as Clara Bennett, a fearless diver with a mysterious past
Jake Ryan (The Great Gatsby, Wolf Creek) as Dylan "Bull" Maddock, the grizzled team leader haunted by wartime trauma
Jacob Junior Nayinggul (High Ground) as Jimmy Barriakada, a young diver with sharp instincts
Arthur Angel as Ernie Morgan, the team’s mechanic and comic relief
Josh McConville as Janusz Wojcik, the no-nonsense engineer
Maximillian Johnson as Shaun Cullen, the criminal liaison with a hidden agenda
Clayton Watson (The Matrix Reloaded) as Bob Drummond, the anxious newcomer
Plus Will Fletcher, Kevin Dee, and Sam Parsonson round out a tension-packed ensemble.

🎥 PRODUCTION DETAILS

Directed by: Matthew Holmes
Written by: Matthew Holmes & Gregory Moss
Produced by: Blake Northfield & Michael Favelle
Cinematography: Peter Szilveszter
Music: Angela Little
Shark Effects: Formation FX
Production Design: Esther Rosenberg
Production Companies: Bronte Pictures, Screen Australia, Screen NSW
Distributed by: StudioCanal

Clocking in at 85 tightly-wound minutes, Fear Below balances atmospheric suspense, practical shark effects, and gritty period detail with an old-school survival-horror edge.

🌍 GLOBAL RELEASE DATES

🇺🇸 United States: May 2, 2025 — in select theaters & on demand
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: May 19, 2025
🇦🇺 Australia: July 2, 2025 — nationwide theatrical release

Whether you're watching in Dolby surround sound or peeking through your fingers at home, Fear Below promises edge-of-your-seat terror and a throwback to creature-feature thrills.

🧠 WHY IT STANDS OUT

What sets Fear Below apart from other shark thrillers?

✅ Historical setting (1946 Australia) — unique and atmospheric

✅ Character-driven story — it's not just about the shark

✅ Realistic effects — no overblown CGI

✅ Criminal heist twist — it’s part shark thriller, part noir caper

✅ Short and sharp runtime — perfect for adrenaline junkies

🎟️ FINAL WORD

If you loved the likes of The Shallows, Deep Blue Sea, or Jaws but want something fresh, grounded, and made with Aussie grit, then Fear Below should be on your radar. With a mix of intense underwater action, gritty period drama, and nerve-shredding suspense, this is one shark movie that doesn’t just swim in familiar waters — it bites back hard.