Netflix's R-Rated Survival Thriller Is the Most Misunderstood Movie of the Year
Written by Robert Scucci | Published
When I shoot It's thrash (2026), I just knew people were going to hate this movie for all the wrong reasons. Within its first day on Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes had already delivered its death blow, to critics and viewers alike. Thrash's reputation overnight with an approval rating of 37 percent across the board. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what's wrong here, but I'll post it anyway because it's an interesting look for moviegoers who may not be into the joke, or don't want to be.
Thrash Released With a Straight Face
It's thrash it plays like a straight up disaster game. Category 5 hurricane destroys east coast city. All of a sudden there are bull sharks circling underwater houses under the leadership of a white chief who will stop at nothing to eat anything in its path. Everyone is panicking. Many people die. The storm is moving forward, and a series of strategic planning resources are in place at the right time.
At face value, It's thrash it sounds like any other low-budget B-movie thriller, but there is one key difference. The film was written and directed by Tommy Wirkola, best known for writing and directing the Dead Snow films, both horror comedies. He also directed 2022 A Violent Nighta dark comedy starring David Harbor as a violent, drunken Santa Claus who also happens to be a Viking warrior with a penchant for extreme cruelty.
With that context in mind, It's thrash it becomes more fun because it has a perfect poker face. Every character plays everything completely straight, despite the fact that everything is clearly ridiculous.
How do I know this? I don't know, I'm not sure. I avoid reading about movies before watching them because I like to form my own opinions. I just want to hear something. But right off the bat, I was reminded of 2008 What is happeningM's misunderstood film. Night Shyamalan. People criticized the wooden acting and the absurd premise, but it wasn't meant to be taken seriously, no matter how straight-faced Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel played it.
It's thrash works on the same route. When a storm hits, the levee breaks, and sharks become the main threat, why else would a truck full of animal blood that might be in the area easily spill over to spill the water? I'm all for plotting things that move the story forward, but if it's on the nose, coming from a filmmaker known for subversion, it sounds intentional.
Signs of Satire Aplenty
Here are some clues he tells me It's thrash you are in on the joke. Our character Dakota (Whitney Peak) has agoraphobia and refuses to leave her house when ordered to leave. Floods. Sharks. It doesn't matter. At that time, his uncle, Dr. Dale Edwards (Djimon Honsou), happens to be a marine explorer who has everything he needs to show up at the right time to save her, just as she is about to overcome her fear because she doesn't have any help on the way.
Then there's Lisa (Phoebe Dynevor), who's nine months pregnant and stuck in town. If you think it would be unfortunate that her water broke, forcing her to give birth in floodwaters infested with sharks, with her placenta actually acting as bait, you won't believe this. That is exactly what is happening.
There is also a separate plot involving siblings Dee (Alyla Browne), Ron (Stacy Clausen), and Will (Dante Ubaldi), who live with their abusive father, Billy (Matt Nable). Billy uses his pension money, which is intended to raise his adopted children, to stock up on expensive steaks in his basement freezer and a collection of weapons and explosives that will obviously go into action later.
Not Getting a Joke Doesn't Make a Bad Movie
All the situation in It's thrash it is pushed to where it cannot go. All the characters are one sided to a fault until they are forced to face their problems head on. Every setup pays as you expect. Everyone in this world acts like they don't know this, while fully committing to every thread you see coming, and they do it all in a completely serious tone.
One quick look at Rotten Tomatoes reviews tells me that people just don't get this movie, and it may take a while for audiences to catch on. Another review says, “Sharks are the best players.” Others chimed in with, “Thrash = Garbage! Worst movie I've ever seen,” and “Condolences to leading lady Phoebe Dynevor who deserved better.”
It will be interesting to see how the time is managed It's thrash. Even now, people do not fully understand What is happening for what it is, despite its creator going on record as saying it was always intended to play as a big-budget B movie. Tommy Wirkola is very subtle here because It's thrash It's marketed as a straightforward survival game, but it's also not his fault if you don't get the obvious winks and nods to come here.
If you want to be part of a joke, you have to meet it halfway. No one is going to spell it for you. But if you're avoiding the movie because of the initial reviews, I'd reconsider.
Come in It's thrash knowing exactly what it is: a deliberately schlocky B-movie meant to sit somewhere in between Jaws again Sharknado. It tries to be serious and funny at the same time. Within that framework, it works incredibly well. You just have to understand where you're going, because the delivery is complete and you can't miss it completely if you don't know who's behind you.
It's thrash is a Netflix Original and currently streaming with an active subscription.
