An Ecogothic Reading of Sea Monsters: Deep Blue Sea (1999) and The Meg (2018)

Abstract

Even though our planet is mostly covered by water, seas and oceans are still considered inhospitable environments where the force of nature can be appreciated in all its splendor. It is perhaps this unconquerable character that makes humans perceive marine ecosystems with a mixture of awe and horror, feelings which may be increased if we think of the unknown creatures that populate the depths of the ocean. This article will look at two films which portray both the wonders and horrors of nautical landscapes, Deep Blue Sea (1999) and The Meg (2018), and it will do so by using an ecogothic approach. The analysis will focus on why these movies could be catalogued as ecogothic by observing on their settings, their characters and their plot development. It will also analyze how humans relate to the marine ecosystem and to the creatures that inhabit it, particularly with different forms of sharks, including their ancestor, the megalodon, emphasizing how these relationships tend to be portrayed as
a fight for control. Furthermore, the representation of these nonhuman animals’ agency will also be considered with the aim of raising awareness about the dangers of humans’ attempts to control and manipulate nature.