Directed by Ben Wheatley of Kill List fame, Meg 2: The Trench is an intense underwater adventure that combines suspense with humour.

Set in the breathtaking underwater landscape of the Mariana Trench, the film revolves around Jonas Taylor, played by the charismatic Jason Statham, a deep-sea rescue expert who is assisting a team of scientists from the Oceanic Institute in China on a dangerous expedition to investigate an apparently abandoned remote station located 25,000 feet below the surface. They hit a roadblock when a squad of heavily armed mercenaries tries to foil their mission. As a result, they are faced with the dual challenge of repelling these enemies and confronting formidable marine creatures, such as the colossal megalodon, a gigantic octopus and ancient carnivorous reptiles.

The film’s strongest asset is its ability to create a sense of awe and fear at the same time. The script is littered with references to the Jaws franchise, Jurassic Park and dozens of other beloved monster movies. Meg 2 opens with an epic scene featuring a tyrannosaurus rex chasing smaller dinosaurs on a beach, only to be surprised by the sudden appearance of the enormous megalodon, which devours the T-rex. Rings a bell?

Jason Statham brings a rugged charm and raw physicality to his portrayal of Jonas Taylor, and his action expertise is put to good use during the high-stakes encounters with the Megalodon. Alongside Statham, Jiuming (Wu Jing) takes centrestage in Meg 2, delivering some clap-worthy action set pieces.

Jiuming is the brother of oceanographer Suyin Zhang (Li Bingbing). While Suyin was shown to have survived the shark attack in The Meg, she is now deceased and Jiuming takes care of her daughter, Meiying (Sophia Cai) along with Taylor. Meiying’s presence in the film shows Taylor’s caring and affectionate side. Page Kennedy’s DJ, the rover pilot from the previous film, also enjoys more screen time this time.

While Meg 2 keeps the tension high and delivers on adrenaline-fuelled action, it sometimes falls into the trap of clichés common in monster films. The plot follows a somewhat formulaic pattern, with some character decisions feeling a bit too convenient to push the story forward. Despite these minor flaws, Meg 2 manages to deliver exactly what it promises — an entertaining and thrilling ride.