The Complicated and Bloody Ending of Below Paris, Defined

This text incorporates spoilers for the film Below Paris.

Shark motion pictures are notorious for his or her not often critical plot strains, notably due to sure motion pictures like Sharknado (and its subsequent sequels). The French movie Below Paris, accessible to stream on Netflix, has a equally foolish really feel, although the movie’s ending has left loads of viewers baffled and confused.

The story is a wild one. Former scientist and studier of sharks Sophia traumatically misplaced her husband whereas researching a Mako shark named Lilith, forcing her to step again from her work. Years later, in France, Sophia is contacted by shark activist Mika, who says that regardless of the percentages, Lilith has swam from the Pacific Ocean to the Seine River. Although she should not have the ability to survive in recent water, Sophie confirms by way of her previous tracker on Lilith that she has migrated to France.

As Sophia battles her demons whereas making an attempt to avoid wasting the individuals of Paris from a possible shark assault, she and her comrades additionally must combat the French authorities, who refuses to imagine {that a} lethal shark is patrolling the river.

Sadly, the movie does not have a contented ending — and the nearer viewers get to the tip, the extra complicated it turns into. Let’s break down and clarify the wild and wacky ending of Below Paris.

As Sophia and her group get nearer and nearer to their aim of both killing or relocating Lilith, it turns into clear that she’s not alone. Not solely has the shark managed to navigate her means throughout the oceans to France, however she’s additionally managed to create mutant infants by reproducing on her personal. There’s some science to again this up, as local weather change and quickly altered ecosystems have produced creatures that may adapt to new climates or reproduce by way of parthenogenesis.

Although one would assume that in a movie about saving individuals from sharks, the individuals would win, Below Paris is a unique case solely. Lilith’s mutations have handed onto her offspring, and although it has been solely three years since Sophia confronted her within the Pacific Ocean, she’s managed to create an entire nest of offspring within the catacombs below Paris. Due to Lilith’s genetic mutations, all of her youngsters can stay in freshwater and reproduce independently at a younger age.

Due to the mayor of Paris’s determination to not heed Sophia’s warning of the killer sharks residing below town and Mika’s poor determination to try to method Lilith calmly, the climax of the film is a massacre. Not solely are members of Sophia’s group killed off trying to explode the nest of sharks (each by the sharks and by the bombs they planted), however athletes collaborating within the triathlon happening within the Siene additionally fall sufferer.

So as to add extra carnage, there are additionally explosives from WWII nonetheless embedded within the Siene River, leading to chain explosions because the French navy hurriedly try to shoot the sharks attacking the athletes. Ultimately, the sharks prevail and stay to prowl extra water sources and declare victims.

Although this looks like a wacky ending, the movie does supply some commentary on human involvement in wildlife, noting how our involvement is usually the catalyst for drastic adaptation in species.

Although it is unlikely killer sharks shall be prowling the rivers of Paris anytime quickly, this campy shark flick has warnings embedded into it (in the event you’re keen to search for them).

Below Paris is now streaming on Netflix.