Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- claustrophobic
- tense
- unsettling
- intense movie night
- survival thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a gripping and visually striking survival thriller, while noting that its character writing is less developed than its underwater suspense.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ida and Tuva are isolated from the outside world and must devise their own underwater rescue after the accident.
Tuva is trapped 30 meters beneath the surface while limited air, depth, and submerged obstacles intensify the crisis.
Winter diving in northern Norway exposes the sisters to freezing water, depth, isolation, and rugged coastal conditions.
The annual winter-diving ritual and the life-threatening accident place the half sisters' relationship under sustained pressure.
Films like Breaking Surface, and why
47 Meters Down
shared underwater survival thriller premise, claustrophobic danger, and female-led rescue drama
The Shallows
shared confined survival tension, environmental peril, and escalating rescue complications
The Wave
shared Scandinavian survival thriller atmosphere, harsh natural setting, and resourceful protagonists
Movie Details
- Director
- Joachim Hedén
- Release Date
- 2020-02-14
- Runtime
- 82 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (456)
Cast
- Moa Gammel
- Madeleine Martin
- Lena Hope
- Trine Wiggen
- Maja Söderström
- Olle Wirenhed
- Jitse Jonathan Buitnik
- Irma Hallberg
- Remi Alashkar
- Alessio Barreto
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Viaplay Amazon Channel, ARROW
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, MovieMe
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Breaking Surface about?
- Two half sisters must mount an improvised rescue when a winter dive in northern Norway leaves one of them trapped on the seabed.
- What is Breaking Surface like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Breaking Surface as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Breaking Surface violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Breaking Surface as moderate.
- What did critics think of Breaking Surface?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a gripping and visually striking survival thriller, while noting that its character writing is less developed than its underwater suspense.
- Which films are like Breaking Surface?
- Films with a similar feel include 47 Meters Down, The Shallows, and The Wave.
- How long is Breaking Surface?
- Breaking Surface runs 82 minutes.
- Where can I watch Breaking Surface?
- In United States, Breaking Surface streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Viaplay Amazon Channel, ARROW.
