Surface

Reviewed by:
Gregg Braverman

It doesn't take a marine biologist to know that below the ocean's surface lies an unknown world filled with undiscovered sea life, bottomless trenches, and a Big Gulp worth of little Billy's urine. But Surface reveals something even more sinister lurking beneath the salty sea: a strange breed of monster that U.S. warhawks want to keep under wraps. Looking to uncover the government's secret is a small group that includes a single mother/oceanographer (Lake Bell), a curious teen (Carter Jenkins), and a vengeance-seeking Cajun (Jay Ferguson) who have all had close encounters with the mysterious creatures. Instead of dovetailing into intricate plot lines, each character's story competes singularly for airtime, bombarding us with far too much to absorb in one sitting. And by the time we get a rare glimpse of the mammoth beast, his appearance elicits more sillies than willies. The fear of something terrifying creeping about the depths should be enough to incentivize viewers to tune in, but Surface will need more than a hideous monster to keep audiences coming back—just ask the creators of Living With Fran.