Crawl (2019) – USAFilm

Introduction

Directed by Alexandre Aja (High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes remake) and produced by horror maestro Sam Raimi, Crawl (2019) is a lean, mean creature feature that pits a young woman against nature’s most relentless predators—alligators—during a Category 5 hurricane. Clocking in at a brisk 87 minutes, the film is a masterclass in tension, practical effects, and survival horror, delivering relentless action with minimal setup.

While Crawl doesn’t reinvent the genre, it executes its premise with brutal efficiency, making it one of the most entertaining creature thrillers of recent years. This review will break down the film’s strengths (its pacing, performances, and gnarly gator attacks) and its few weaknesses (some predictable tropes and occasional CGI hiccups).

Plot Summary

Haley Keller (Barry’s Kaya Scodelario) is a college swimmer who drives back to her Florida hometown as a massive hurricane approaches. Her estranged father, Dave (Barry Pepper), isn’t answering his phone, so she breaks into his house to check on him—only to find him injured and unconscious in the basement.

Things go from bad to worse when floodwaters rise, trapping them inside the house… with multiple enormous alligators now swimming through the submerged rooms. With the storm intensifying, rescue unlikely, and the gators growing more aggressive, Haley must use her swimming skills and sheer willpower to survive.

Analysis

1. Relentless Pacing & Tight Runtime

One of Crawl’s biggest strengths is its refusal to waste time. Within 10 minutes, we’re introduced to Haley, the hurricane, and the first alligator attack. There’s no bloated backstory—just immediate, high-stakes survival. The film never lets up, moving from one terrifying set piece to another (basement escape, crawl space ambush, attic showdown).

Unlike many modern horror films that rely on slow burns, Crawl is an old-school B-movie thrill ride, prioritizing action over exposition.

2. Killer Creature Effects (Mostly Practical!)

Aja wisely blends practical animatronics with CGI, giving the alligators a visceral, weighty presence. The close-up attacks—jaws snapping, limbs getting torn—feel terrifyingly real. Only a few wide shots (like a fully CGI gator swimming) look slightly fake, but the film’s breakneck pace makes it easy to overlook.

The gore is gnarly but not excessive—a severed arm here, a brutal drowning there—keeping it in line with classic creature features like Jaws or Deep Blue Sea.

3. Strong Lead Performances

Kaya Scodelario fully commits as Haley, selling both her physical struggle (swimming through debris, fighting gators) and emotional arc (reconnecting with her father). Barry Pepper is equally great as the gruff but loving dad, adding heart to the chaos. Their strained-but-loving relationship gives the film emotional stakes beyond just survival.

4. Claustrophobic Setting & Natural Horror

The flooded house becomes a nightmare maze—water rising, exits blocked, predators lurking in every shadow. Aja uses tight corridors, submerged rooms, and flickering lights to amplify tension. Unlike open-water shark films, Crawl’s confined space makes escape feel impossible.

The hurricane itself is a constant threat, with howling winds, crashing debris, and rising water adding to the chaos.

5. Minor Flaws: Predictable Tropes & Some CGI

A few clichés pop up (the “fake-out death,” the “one last scare” ending), but they’re executed well.
Some CGI gators (especially in wide shots) look a bit weightless compared to the practical ones.
Logic gaps? Sure (why don’t the gators just eat them immediately?), but the film moves too fast to dwell on them.

Comparison to Other Creature Features

Like Jaws but indoors—small-scale, character-driven, with a focus on primal fear.
Similar to The Shallows (2016)—one protagonist vs. nature, survival against impossible odds.
More intense than Rogue (2007) but less gritty than Black Water (2007).

Final Verdict

Crawl is a near-perfect creature feature—short, savage, and packed with white-knuckle suspense. It doesn’t aim for deep themes or arthouse prestige; it just wants to make you clutch your seat while a woman fights giant alligators in a hurricane. And it succeeds brilliantly.

Rating: 8/10 – A razor-sharp, adrenaline-pumping survival horror that delivers exactly what it promises.