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Megalodon Rising
Movie

Megalodon Rising

2021 • Unknown

Woke Score
6
out of 10

Plot

When history’s greatest aquatic predator returns, the armada of modern warships sent to destroy it has no chance at all.

Overall Series Review

Megalodon Rising is a low-budget action film from The Asylum that focuses on a contemporary naval standoff while an ancient shark monster attacks. The American warship, the USS King, is commanded by Captain Lynch, a woman of color, who must navigate an international crisis when she rescues a Chinese scientist. The scientist's ship was in US waters attempting espionage, leading to a confrontation with an aggressive Chinese destroyer demanding her return. The core of the plot is the military and diplomatic maneuvering while the megalodon attacks both sides. The American military is depicted as highly incompetent, with key personnel showing a lack of basic military discipline and supplies. The female command structure is presented as the only competent element capable of solving the crisis, with the senior male authority figure serving as a punchline. The movie does not engage with themes of sexuality or religion.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics7/10

The lead commander of the USS King, Captain Lynch, is a woman of color who carries the weight of the command and successfully navigates the dual threat. The white male authority figure, Moore, is depicted as a bumbling, non-essential presence with a phoned-in performance. A minor but potent detail includes a US midshipman on the ship wearing a symbol of historical Western evil (a Nazi helmet), which is a clear ideological statement against American military personnel.

Oikophobia6/10

The narrative consistently portrays the American military institution as incompetent and illogical. The warships run out of ammunition almost immediately. Crew members openly question their captain's orders, suggesting a complete breakdown of discipline. This degradation of a core national institution depicts a lack of respect for Western defense mechanisms. The inclusion of a US Navy crewman wearing a Nazi helmet further demonstrates a subtle but intentional visual indictment of the institution.

Feminism8/10

Captain Lynch, a Black woman, is the clear 'Girl Boss' lead, effortlessly competent and decisive in her high-pressure military role. She receives support and respect from her second-in-command, while the senior male officer, Moore, is a passive and ineffective figurehead. The film features a strong, capable female command structure and a female scientist with the essential knowledge, sidelining the senior male presence into a role of incompetence.

LGBTQ+1/10

The film focuses on military action, monster threats, and a political standoff. There is no inclusion or discussion of alternative sexualities, the deconstruction of the nuclear family, or gender theory.

Anti-Theism1/10

The core conflict is a military and monster-based emergency. The film contains no religious or spiritual themes, and the characters do not address objective moral law or the existence of God. The narrative operates within a purely secular, action-oriented framework.