“Kraken”

With its foreboding, suspenseful atmosphere, genuinely satisfying monster, and just enough intelligence to stand out from the usual horror formula, director Pål Øie‘s “Kraken” delivers exactly what a good creature feature should. While it definitely embraces familiar genre elements, the film gives them a distinctly Norwegian identity that grounds its giant monster folklore, environmental anxieties, and the eerie isolation of the country’s famous fjords. This one is not only well done, but it’s tons of fun, too.

The story follows a marine biologist investigating strange activity surrounding a commercial fish farm in Norway’s deepest fjord. Wild salmon begin behaving in strange ways, mysterious deaths start piling up, and rumors of something ancient lurking beneath the water move from legendary myth to a terrifying possibility.

Instead of rushing straight into nonstop destruction, Øie takes his time building tension in a slower, investigative approach that works really well. This makes the movie feel less like a traditional horror film and more like a mystery unfolding around an old folk tale. It’s a bloody story about a deadly creature that’s been given a bit of that Norwegian cinematic polish that movie fans tend to love.

The fjord setting makes the atmosphere unsettling because there’s something inherently disquieting about those deep sea inlets that are flanked by mountainous terrain. The dark water, looming cliffs, and overwhelming sense of isolation constantly feeds the dread, making the backdrop almost as distressing as it is scenic. The movie understands how terrifying the idea of a limitless ocean can be, and it uses that aquatic fear effectively throughout. There’s a creeping tension hanging over the film long before the creature fully appears. When the movie finally reveals the monster, it delivers. The CGI is surprisingly impressive, and the Kraken itself feels massive, threatening, and appropriately mythic. The creature design balances realism with full-on monster movie spectacle, and several sequences effectively capture the scale and terror of being hunted by something ancient beneath the water.

What elevates all of this beyond a simple monster movie is how strongly it ties the horror to themes of corporate greed and environmental disruption. The awakening of the creature isn’t random, but directly connected to a fish farm’s use of aggressive ultrasonic technology meant to maximize profits and control parasites. The film frames the disaster as a consequence of human arrogance and the exploitation of natural ecosystems, making the ancient beast feel less like a villain and more like nature violently pushing back.

The use of Nordic mythology also gives the film real personality. Rather than treating the Kraken as just another CGI creature, the story roots it in authentic folklore by exploring the idea that ancient myths were warnings people stopped listening to. There’s something effective about watching modern sonar systems, industrial machinery, and advanced technology become completely useless against something primordial and unknowable. Legends become legends for a reason.

The film spends a lot of time setting up its mystery and themes before fully unleashing the creature, but it respects the genre while giving it enough depth and atmosphere to feel fresh. “Kraken” is a smart, entertaining creature horror with a strong sense of place and mythological identity. If you’re a fan of atmospheric sci-fi horror and folklore-driven monster stories, this one is worth your time (and patience).

By: Louisa Moore