Deep water Horizon Film Review

Deepwater Horizon

Greed is one of the seven deadly sins mentioned in the book of Proverbs. It is ugly in so many ways. We humans want more, thinking it will satisfy us. However, it only leads to emptiness. In the case of this movie (based on a true story), greed leads to destruction.

On April 20, 2010, several workers aboard the oil rig named Deepwater Horizon went about their day. They did their jobs, making small talk. Captain Jimmy (played by Kurt Russell) noticed something completely off in the rig. There was no cement test done. Angry, he confronted Don Irvine (John Malkovich) and other BP executives about this. Irvine in so many words reassured Jimmy to stay put, keep drilling because the rig was 43 days behind schedule.

Everything was fine, or so they thought. Two tests were run, but the numbers didn’t line up. Before long, the workers were drilling 10,000 barrels of mud to a ship out on the Gulf of Mexico. Caleb Holloway (Dylan O’Brien) almost walked away, before noticing the mud rising in the drilling floor. It doesn’t take long for them to figure out something is very wrong.

Positive Elements: As mentioned, this film is based on a true story. We find some characters worth rooting for. One of those is Mike Williams (Mark Wahlberg). Before that fateful day, viewers see him as a loving husband and father. Mike is also a hard worker and makes sure the job is done.

When disaster strikes, Mike is the first one to wade through the wreckage and find workers. Some other characters follow his lead as well. When people are freaked out, Mike calms them down. Caleb and Mike walk back into the rig, hoping to get a power signal. Andrea (Gina Rodriguez) is scared to jump, but she and Mike do so anyway.

After the incident, the workers hold tight to their families. This provides a lesson in not taking life or your family for granted.

Spiritual Content: The workers recite the Lord’s Prayer later in the film.

Sensual Content: Mike and his wife Felicia are shown in bed together in the opening scene. He’s wearing boxers, she has on a t-shirt and skimpy underwear. They begin to kiss passionately before the camera cuts away. Jimmy is seen from the shoulders up in the shower.

Violence: Deepwater Horizon is not an easy film to watch. Please bear with me because this section contains jarring content.

Once the mud starts rising, things slip sideways fast. Workers are thrown about, sprayed with oil and mud combined. People in the test room try to shut down the pipes, but with no success. It only grows worse from there.

When the rig descends into chaos, a few workers are blown backward into the wall, briefly knocking them out. One worker is bruised and pulls a piece of shrapnel from his foot. Glass flies everywhere too. Several workers have blood trickling from their faces. 

Multiple explosions occur and result in a fire. One worker dies trying to keep the crane from damaging the rig. In the end credits, it’s noted that 11 men died during that night. Mike snaps a worker’s leg bone into place in order to help him out of the damaged rig.

Language: Three f-words are accompanied with multiple s-words, including a small smattering of a—, b—ch, p—, and h—. God’s and Jesus’ names are also abused as well.

Drugs/Alcohol: Felicia drinks a beer in one scene.

Other Negative Elements: BP executives are selfish and greed driven. They even pull away in a half-full life boat, leaving other workers behind.

Conclusion: Deepwater Horizon is one of those movies where you have to decide to engage with it. To help you further understand what you are up against, I’ll give you the good and bad.

First, the good: This movie is a nearly accurate portrayal of what happened on April 20, 2010. It shows how workers risked their lives for one another and didn’t let fear stop them. The acting is phenomenal as well. The cast really gave their all, playing these characters. The film reminds us that we shouldn’t take life for granted.

Then there’s the bad: Deepwater Horizon is, without a doubt, a hard movie to watch. As the rig explodes and workers are thrown about, it’s hard not to wince and gasp at these scenes. The fact that many people made it out alive is beyond me. Another problem is the language: we hear several profanities (three f-words among them) when the destruction begins.

All that aside, Deepwater Horizon is a moving film, showing viewers the bravery and courage these people faced. Yes, some problems are present, but if you can glance past them, this film is worth watching.