How Netflix’s ‘Under Paris’ Causes Thalassophobia—According to a Psychologist

In 1975, Jaws revolutionized the horror genre by showing us just how scary sharks can be. Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece didn’t just scare us. created a cultural phenomenon that left an indelible mark on the collective psyche. Since then, a number of shark movies have tried to recreate this primal fear – but most have been mediocre and quickly forgotten. However, in 2024, Netflix Under Parisa French film directed by Xavier Gens, emerged to challenge this narrative.

Despite receiving mixed reviews, Under Paris has rocketed to the top of Netflix’s most-watched movies worldwide, with viewers touting it as a potential opponent Jaws. This raises an interesting question: how did this film manage to achieve what so many others have not? To understand this, a deep dive into the psychological mechanisms at play Under Paris necessary. Here’s a psychologist’s take on how the film successfully plays with our minds by throwing us into the deep end of ‘thalassophobia’.

What is Thalassophobia?

Thalassophobia, as described by psychologists, is an intense fear of large bodies of water—such as oceans, seas, and even deep lakes. People who suffer from this phobia often experience a range of symptoms when faced with deep water, including intense anxiety, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, sweating, nausea and a sense of impending doom.

The fear factors associated with thalassophobia can vary, but usually include:

• The vast immensity and depth of the water
• The possible presence of invisible creatures
• The inability to see the bottom
• The fear of drowning

These factors combine to create a strong sense of vulnerability and powerlessness that can be overwhelming for those affected.

According to a 2020 study, the relationship we have with the ocean is both complex and intricate. Various studies have found that interactions between people and water can lead to feelings of restoration and happiness. This phenomenon – known as the ‘blue space’ phenomenon – refers to mainly aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, coastal areas and oceans. The resulting concept of the “blue mind” explains why people are instinctively drawn to the ocean, and how being in or near the ocean can fill us with an inexplicable sense of calm, peace, and well-being—and has been shown to provide a range of benefits related to wellness.

However, humans are air-breathing mammals and we rely heavily on sight to find food and avoid danger. So, alongside the fear of the dark (nyctophobia), the fear of the sea (thalassophobia) can be equally important. The incredibly vast and mysterious nature of the ocean—combined with the potential dangers that lurk—can trigger deep-seated fears and anxieties even in people who love the water. And Xavier Gens knew how to do it right Under Paris.

How Under Paris It causes thalassophobia

Under Paris follows a familiar premise in shark movies: a group of individuals trying to stop a shark from wreaking havoc. However, it goes a step further by introducing the terrifying idea that a terrible, unknown species of shark may be infiltrating our cities. This condition alone subverts our sense of safety and familiarity, turning a busy urban environment into a scene of primal fear. But, setting its scenes in some of the most polluted and disturbing aquatic environments, Under Paris plays with viewers’ expectations of the ocean and deep water like no other shark movie:

• The first act takes place in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – an area so littered with plastic waste that it obscures the sky above.
• The second act moves to the sewage tanks of Paris near the catacombs, an incomprehensibly deep and dark setting where Neither humans nor sharks should be.
• The brazen third act takes place on the Seine River during a triathlon, a familiar urban setting turned nightmarish.

In each of these three acts, the water conditions are abysmal. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is unsafe for both humans and sea creatures. This depiction of the ocean at its worst—a biohazardous zone with poor visibility, immense depth, and littered with waste—reflects real-life ecological disasters. This setting evokes fear by emphasizing the inherent dangers of polluted and uncharted waters, heightening fear of the unknown and unseen threats lurking beneath the surface.

The second act is an absolute nightmare set in a tank unfit for a large group of people. It is dark and the presence of sharks in such a location is completely unnatural. When the sharks appear, chaos ensues with people jumping, pushing, shoving and falling in their desperate attempts to escape. This scenario taps into primal fears of being trapped and helpless in a dangerous environment – and we can’t help but mirror the characters’ utter terror and anxiety.

The third act, set on the Seine, hits closer to home. With the 2024 Olympics scheduled to take place in Paris, the Seine is a central, if dirty, part of the city where swimming has been banned since 1923. The appearance of a shark—one that shouldn’t even survive in fresh water—along with his offspring, in such a familiar and supposedly safe environment, creates an unsettling sense of vulnerability. This scenario, while seemingly absurd, plays on real fears that our everyday spaces are becoming dangerous.

Under Paris it effectively induces thalassophobia by combining ecological crises with primal fears. The film presents environments at their worst possible, filled with trash, darkness and chaos – which are unfortunately but terrifyingly true to the real world situation. This depiction of heavily polluted waters where sharks have no choice but to adapt and conquer creates a hauntingly realistic setting. This effective depiction leaves viewers wondering if it exists The body of water can always be truly safe—making the fear of darkness, immensity, and unknown, unseen dangers below the surface tangible and comparative.