Fish from Hell is a weird, salty time capsule

Is this for you?

If you like watching old footage of people catching giant fish while wearing hats that definitely don't belong on a boat, you’ll love this. If you need a narrative, CGI, or anything resembling modern pacing, stay away. This is basically a 1930s screen saver for people who own too many fishing rods.

The whole thing is basically just a camera crew tagging along on a trip off the coast of Mexico. It feels less like a movie and more like someone’s very expensive home movie that somehow got a release. It’s got that grainy, scratchy look that makes you feel like you need to squint just to see if that’s a shark or a piece of seaweed.

The whale versus swordfish bit? Yeah, that’s the highlight. It’s chaotic and honestly a little hard to follow, but seeing it on screen is pretty wild. You can tell they were just waiting for something to happen so they could hit record. The rest of the time it’s mostly just guys hauling things up onto the deck with a lot of heavy breathing.

There isn't much of a script, which is actually kind of refreshing. It doesn't try to lecture you or build up some deep meaning about the ocean. It just shows you a tuna, then a manta, then maybe a shark. It has the same energy as that old Forgotten Men footage—you’re watching a world that doesn't really exist the same way anymore.

Sometimes the camera lingers on a guy just standing there, looking out at the water, and it goes on for way too long. It’s like the cameraman forgot he was supposed to be filming action. It’s awkward, but I kind of liked it.

• That one shark looks bored.
• The boat deck is surprisingly clean for all the carnage.
• The music choice is... loud.

It’s not as polished as something like Tosca, obviously, but it wasn't trying to be. It’s just fish. Lots of fish. Some of them are big, some are small, and all of them look like they’re having a bad day. 🐟

If you’re into oddball cinema, give it a shot. Just don’t expect to learn anything useful about fishing. It’s mostly just a weird, salty slice of life.