In the vast seascape of contemporary blockbusters, superhero films have largely dominated the box office and fan discussions over the last decade. Their larger-than-life protagonists and universes are packed with enough gravity-defying stunts, intergalactic threats, and enough spandex to stock a department store. But when The Meg surfaced back in 2018, it introduced a different kind of thrill: a giant prehistoric shark as its antagonist. The Meg 2: The Trench director Ben Wheatley believes the creature feature franchise resonates more with audiences than the spectacle of superhero cinema. And he makes an interesting point.
While many viewers were initially hooked by the sheer spectacle of Jason Statham battling a prehistoric shark, and some still are since the sequel seems like the rare flick where a rotten Rotten Tomato score appears to be attracting some movie watchers, The film's director believes that the real attraction is the genuine human touch and vulnerability of the characters, which he feels are missing in most upcoming Marvel movies and DC flicks. In a recent Screen Rant interview, Wheatley delved deeper into this perspective, saying:
