Kraken (2026)

-Written by Dante Natale.

In Kraken, when strange activity begins to surface in Norway’s largest fjord, marine biologist Johanne, played by Sara Khorami, travels to Sognefjord to investigate. What begins as a routine environmental inspection quickly escalates into something far more unsettling, as foul play appears to have awakened something long buried in the depths.

As Johanne arrives in Sognefjord, she is quickly pulled into a growing sense of unease as local authorities investigate and a fish farm station leadership, including CEO Avaldsnes (Øyvind Brandtzæg) and Erik (Mikkel Bratt Silset), an old research partner of hers, begin to dismiss and downplay the unusual disturbances beneath the water. Partnering with a small research team, she pushes deeper into the investigation, uncovering signs that whatever is stirring in the fjord is far larger and more dangerous than anyone is willing to admit. What initially feels like a contained environmental mystery gradually shifts into something more ominous and increasingly difficult to control.

A main issue with Kraken is that it takes far too long to get going. That in itself isn’t necessarily a flaw, but in order to sustain engagement, the film needs compelling characters to carry that slower buildup. Unfortunately, most of the cast feels stiff, with little distinct personality to latch onto. When compared to something like Jaws, where even supporting characters feel memorable and alive, Kraken struggles to establish the same level of investment. Without a performance that truly anchors the story, much of the early film feels like a lesson in routine fish farming operations rather than a gripping narrative.

I was quite pleased with the cinematography in Kraken. The use of CGI is especially impressive once the film begins to ramp up in its final act, delivering a sense of scale that the story often teases earlier on. With a film centered on a colossal sea monster, there’s always a risk of it feeling like a low-budget sci-fi channel feature, but Kraken largely avoids that through its visual presentation. The sweeping landscapes of Sognefjord, Norway add a striking contrast to the impending sense of doom, grounding the spectacle in something surprisingly serene. The latter half of the film ultimately delivers for creature feature fans, offering more pulse-pounding action and a stronger sense of momentum.

Ultimately, Kraken doesn’t do enough to distinguish itself from other monster films and left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed by the end. While the visuals and tense sequences in the latter half offer moments of genuine entertainment and showcase what the film is capable of at its best, the surrounding plot and noticeably padded runtime significantly weigh the film down. There are stretches where momentum stalls, making the experience feel longer than it needs to be. The ending, in particular, feels anticlimactic, and at times strains credibility with questionable logic in its final scenes, ultimately diminishing the impact of what should have been a stronger payoff.

Overall, Kraken is a visually strong but narratively uneven creature feature that struggles to maintain momentum.

Directed by Pål Øie.

Written by Vilde Eide, Kjersti Helen Rasmussen & Natasha Arthur.

Starring Sarah Khorami, Mikkel Bratt Silset, Øyvind Brandtzæg, Ingvild Holthe Bygdnes, etc.

6/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE