If you want better suspense
Choose It Follows. It scores 4.7 vs 3.4 for suspense, with a 4.1 overall score.
Kraken Movie Review
Content guidance
Monster attacks involve drowning, people being torn apart, mutilated bodies, and blood, alongside sustained underwater peril and grotesque parasites. Much of the killing happens offscreen, but the aftermath can still be disturbing.
Bottom Line
Striking fjord photography and claustrophobic creature attacks give Kraken its strongest appeal. The long investigation and thin characters make its delayed monster payoff a gamble.
Creature-feature and folklore fans who enjoy patient buildup before a concentrated monster finale. Attentive viewing on a large screen makes the most of the fjords and imposing reveal.
Viewers seeking nonstop creature action or explicit monster kills may be disappointed by the long setup and frequent cutaways. It is also a poor fit for distracted background viewing.
Verdict
Kraken is easiest to recommend to creature-feature fans willing to wait for their spectacle. The fjord photography is its most dependable attraction, and the confined tentacle and parasite encounters give the final stretch genuine menace. Sara Khorami also earns repeated praise for lending warmth and control to an underwritten lead. The major reservation is how much time the film spends investigating a salmon farm before fully unleashing its monster. Admirers find that patient ecological setup meaningful and the reveal spectacular; detractors find the people dull, the conservation message heavy-handed, and the payoff too modest. Effects are similarly uneven, with impressive large images alongside less convincing details. An attentive watch on a large screen offers its best chance of landing, provided nonstop mayhem is not the expectation.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
64 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.06 (9%)
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Positive 3.5-4.421 (33%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.422 (34%)
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Negative 1.5-2.415 (23%)
Pros highlights
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The confined tentacle and parasite chases supply many of the strongest thrills. The finale divides critics between those who find it spectacular and those who see generic, underpowered action.
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Øie receives credit for patient visual setup and confined-space attacks. Criticism centers on uneven pacing, weak dramatic engagement, and difficulty combining earnest conservation drama with monster silliness.
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Sweeping fjord vistas and ominous underwater photography are the film’s most consistent strengths. Several critics find the scenery more memorable than the human story.
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The full creature reveal and practical parasite work often impress, though close views and certain shots look less convincing. Overall effects judgments range from excellent to underwhelming.
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Imposing scale is one of the reveal’s biggest assets, with some shots judged comparable to Hollywood spectacle. Detractors feel the cramped, dark presentation prevents that size from fully registering.
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Sara Khorami is often praised for a calm, warm presence that gives the film emotional weight. A dissenting assessment finds the protagonist notably unexpressive.
Cons highlights
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A lengthy investigation precedes the major monster action, producing sharply divided reactions. Patient admirers see an earned reveal, while detractors struggle with a dull first hour and an uneven rush to the finish.
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The final act gives many viewers enough monster fun to justify a watch. Others find the slow setup and bland human material too much for that late payoff to redeem.
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Fish farming and corporate greed give the monster rampage a topical ecological motive. Some critics welcome that substance; others find the message repetitive, stern, or insufficiently developed.
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The Kraken remains largely concealed until late in the film. That restraint makes the reveal powerful for some viewers, while many others feel the title creature is crowded out by human business.
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The opening and cramped tentacle encounters can generate real anxiety. Whether that tension survives the extended setup and predictable outcomes is a major point of disagreement.
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Familiar aquatic-horror plots and recycled monster-movie beats dominate the criticism. A few viewers find fresh energy in the parasites or the treatment of tentacle attacks.
Use Cases
Best for
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The large creature reveal and expansive scenery reward a big screen. One especially admired image is described as fit for IMAX.
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Patient horror viewers are better positioned to enjoy the gradual investigation and delayed reveal. The strongest endorsements describe the finale as a payoff earned by attentive buildup.
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Folklore enthusiasts may appreciate the blend of ancient legend and modern marine science. Some critics find the myth vividly realized, while another sees less folkloric substance than in Netflix’s Troll films.
Not ideal for
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Gore-focused viewingViewers seeking explicit monster kills may find the frequent cutaways frustrating. Mutilated aftermath is shown more readily than the attacks’ gory payoff.
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Background viewingDistracted second-screen viewing is specifically discouraged. The slow accumulation of visual clues and routine details needs sustained attention.
Cast & Creators
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JohanneKhorami is repeatedly praised for calm control, warmth, and emotional weight. Her presence often compensates for a protagonist whose writing offers little depth.
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CinematographerAarthun’s photography earns strong praise for making the fjord and mountain ranges visually impressive. His landscape images are a clear highlight even for less enthusiastic critics.
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DirectorØie’s patient visual setup and confined monster encounters win admirers, especially when the finale pays off. Other critics find his pacing uneven and his handling of drama and spectacle less assured.
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JosteinBrandtzæg brings suggestive nuance, nervous ambition, and a convincing salesman exterior to the owner. His American accent receives particular praise.
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ErikSilset brings solid confidence and a sober, contained approach to Erik. His restraint suits the scientific inquiry and emerging danger.
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GeorgMyre is praised for doing a lot with a small role. His contribution gives the supporting ensemble a welcome lift.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Movies, this product is above average in Narrative stakes, sexual content level, accent authenticity, near average in pacing, Environmental commentary, below average in character appeal, visual style, memorability.
Comparison summary
60 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher7 (12%)
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Same as average within 0.3 pts19 (32%)
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Below average 0.4+ pts lower34 (57%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| character appeal | 1.7 | 3.7 | -2.0 |
| visual style | 2.0 | 4.0 | -2.0 |
| memorability | 1.8 | 3.8 | -1.9 |
| soundtrack quality | 2.0 | 4.0 | -2.0 |
| value for money | 1.5 | 3.4 | -1.9 |
| editing quality | 2.0 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| villain quality | 2.0 | 3.2 | -1.2 |
| character development | 2.1 | 3.1 | -1.0 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better value for money
Choose Wicked: For Good. It scores 5.0 vs 1.5 for value for money, with a 3.5 overall score.
If you want better villain quality
Choose The Cycle. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for villain quality, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better originality
Choose Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. It scores 4.9 vs 2.3 for originality, with a 4.4 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Compared: runtime A Godzilla Minus One wordplay comparison commends Kraken's compact runtime.
Jaws (1975)
- Better: delayed monster reveal Jaws makes the long wait for its monster work more effectively than Kraken.
- Similar: opening attack The opening jetski attack successfully riffs on Jaws.
- Similar: aquatic creature-feature influence Jaws remains an obvious influence on Kraken's aquatic monster approach.
Alien (1979)
- Similar: parasite threat The oversized parasites produce Alien-like menace.
- Similar: vent chases and parasite appearance The vent chases and small creatures recall Alien.
- Similar: parasite design The smaller parasites resemble Alien's facehuggers.
FAQ
Is Kraken mostly monster action?
No. Much of the film follows a marine investigation and fish-farm conflict, with the largest creature action arriving late.
Are the effects convincing?
Opinions vary. Practical work and the full creature reveal often impress, while some digital details and close shots draw criticism.
Is the environmental story worthwhile?
Some find the fish-farming critique meaningful and timely. Others consider it repetitive or too heavy-handed.
Should I watch it on a large screen?
The fjord photography and enormous creature reveal are strong reasons to use a large screen. A theatrical viewing receives an explicit recommendation.
Is it very gory?
Many attacks happen offscreen, but mutilated bodies, torn-apart victims, blood, and grotesque parasites remain part of the horror.
How is the English dub?
Reactions conflict sharply: one viewer finds it abysmal and flat, while another pair finds it better than expected.
Does it work as background viewing?
One strong recommendation specifically discourages second-screen viewing. Its gradual setup and visual clues benefit from attention.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Ivotres Littles - Horror Movies and Beyond
- Review score
- 2.9
YouTube - Cosmic Frame | Patrick Santiago
- Review score
- 2.8
Article Reviews
inreviewonline.com
A new film review of Kraken, directed by Pål Øie & released by Samuel Goldwyn Films, for film review site In Review Online.
- Review score
- 2.5
dailydead.com
Are you sick of shark attack movies? Or, at the least, craving a different aquatic horror flavor? You’re in luck this year! Not only is...
- Review score
- 3.3
morbidlybeautiful.com
Kraken" is a gorgeous, slow-burn eco-horror full of atmosphere, drama, and a deeply satisfying final-act creature-feature payoff.
- Review score
- 4.5
rogerebert.com
Starts with great promise and a visually dynamic monster attack sequence. Then it settles into a mostly formulaic groove.
- Review score
- 2.5
screenrant.com
Pål Øie's Kraken packs the large scale and environmental themes of Godzilla and ambiguous suspense of Jaws into a tightly wound thrill ride.
- Review score
- 3.7
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