Chum (2026) Movie Review: A Beautiful but Boring Shark Survival Thriller on Lionsgate Play

Shark survival thrillers usually promise three things: terrifying attacks, desperate characters and enough underwater tension to make viewers afraid of entering a swimming pool. Chum certainly has the shark, the stranded victims and a beautiful ocean setting. Unfortunately, genuine excitement seems to have been left somewhere back on the shore.

Directed by Jonathan Zuck, Chum is an 87-minute survival horror thriller starring Alice Eve, Eric Michael Cole, Jim Klock, Elle Haymond and Sarah Siadat. The movie is now available in Hindi through Lionsgate Play, making it accessible to Indian viewers looking for a quick ocean-based thriller.

Its short running time initially feels perfect for this kind of story. At just under 90 minutes, the movie should have been a fast, brutal and entertaining survival experience. Instead, it frequently feels slower than films that are twice its length.

What Is Chum About?

The story follows Tina and Tom, a newly married couple celebrating their destination wedding in Malta. However, beneath the beautiful decorations and expensive celebrations, their relationship is already filled with tension.

Tina has a serious fear of the ocean and cannot swim. Despite her anxiety, she is persuaded to join Tom and their friends on a private catamaran excursion across the Mediterranean Sea. Naturally, this seemingly relaxing trip does not remain peaceful for very long.

Once the group travels far from the shore, a giant shark begins attacking their boat. The vessel is badly damaged, communication becomes difficult and the terrified passengers are forced to fight for survival.

That already sounds like enough trouble for one holiday, but the shark is not the only danger waiting for them. A mysterious fisherman soon enters the story, turning the situation into a battle between frightened survivors, a bloodthirsty predator and a human being whose intentions are far from helpful.

The concept has the ingredients of an entertaining B-movie. Unfortunately, the execution never becomes as exciting as the premise.

Beautiful Locations Are the Real Star

The best thing about Chum is easily its location.

The sparkling blue water, bright sky and wide shots of the Mediterranean Sea create a surprisingly peaceful atmosphere. Several scenes look more like footage from an expensive travel advertisement than a survival horror movie.

The natural scenery is genuinely soothing to watch. In another kind of film, that would have been a major strength. In a shark thriller, however, the peaceful visuals sometimes work against the suspense.

Instead of making the ocean feel mysterious and threatening, the movie frequently makes it look like the perfect place for a holiday. There are moments when viewers may forget that a killer shark is supposed to be circling beneath the characters.

Anyone watching primarily for beautiful coastal scenery may enjoy the experience. Those expecting something frightening, however, will probably feel disappointed.

Where Is the Shark Action?

The biggest problem with Chum is that it does not deliver enough memorable shark action.

A survival thriller needs constant pressure. The characters should feel trapped, exhausted and only seconds away from death. The audience should also feel that danger, even when the creature is not visible.

Here, the tension appears briefly and then disappears. Shark attacks happen, but they are neither frequent nor terrifying enough to carry the entire movie. The suspense rarely reaches the level expected from the genre.

Before watching, I expected violent attacks, unpredictable deaths and scenes capable of making viewers uncomfortable. Instead, the movie often becomes strangely relaxing.

At certain points, the calm ocean, slow pacing and weak dramatic scenes may make viewers feel sleepy rather than frightened. Considering how many people struggle to sleep these days, perhaps that is the film’s hidden superpower.

Weak Characters and Predictable Decisions

Another issue is the lack of interesting characters.

Survival films work best when viewers care about the people in danger. Even a simple character can become memorable through believable fear, emotional conflict or intelligent decision-making.

The characters in Chum frequently feel underdeveloped. Their personal disagreements are not engaging enough, and several decisions appear to exist only because the story needs another dangerous situation.

Tina’s fear of water gives her character a potentially strong emotional journey. The movie could have explored her anxiety more deeply and used it to create powerful moments of courage. Although the story attempts to develop this idea, the emotional impact remains limited.

The performances are also uneven. Alice Eve brings some presence to the leading role, but the screenplay does not give her enough meaningful material to transform Tina into a memorable survival heroine.

The Human Threat Adds a Twist

The introduction of a dangerous fisherman gives the story an additional layer. Instead of focusing only on a shark attack, Chum places its survivors between an ocean predator and a disturbed human enemy.

This twist should have made the film more intense. Unfortunately, it also pushes the shark further into the background.

Viewers hoping for a straightforward creature feature may be disappointed when the human conflict begins receiving more attention. The fisherman’s motivation is dark, but parts of the storyline feel exaggerated and unintentionally funny.

The movie ultimately becomes a mixture of shark horror, revenge thriller and survival drama without fully succeeding in any of those categories.

Can You Watch Chum With Your Family?

Chum is not an ideal choice for traditional family viewing.

The movie contains bikini scenes, kissing, violent shark attacks, blood and disturbing situations. It does not appear to rely heavily on explicit sexual content, but some scenes may still feel uncomfortable when watching with parents or younger children.

Airtel Xstream Play lists the Hindi version as U/A 13+, while JioTV also carries the 87-minute Hindi edition. It is available through Lionsgate Play and can also be accessed through supported streaming bundles.

Final Verdict

Chum is a disappointing shark survival thriller that looks much better than it feels.

Its Mediterranean locations are beautiful, the running time is manageable and the central concept has some potential. However, the weak tension, forgettable characters, limited shark action and slow storytelling prevent it from becoming a gripping experience.

Viewers who enjoy every shark movie, regardless of quality, may still find enough entertainment to finish it. It may also work as a casual one-time watch for people who want attractive ocean visuals and do not expect serious horror.

But anyone looking for a dangerous, nerve-racking survival movie should lower their expectations. The shark may be hungry, but the screenplay never develops enough bite.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars