Crawl (2019), directed by Alexandre Aja and produced by Sam Raimi, is a lean, relentless survival thriller that blends natural disaster chaos with creature-feature terror. Set against the backdrop of a Category 5 hurricane tearing through Florida, the film plunges viewers into a claustrophobic nightmare where the storm isn’t the only threat.
The story follows Haley Keller (Kaya Scodelario), a determined college swimmer who braves the worsening storm to check on her estranged father, Dave (Barry Pepper). She finds him injured and trapped in the crawl space beneath their family home—alongside a deadly surprise: massive, aggressive alligators that have made the flooded lower level their new hunting ground.
As floodwaters rise and the creatures close in, Haley and her father must rely on their wits, physical endurance, and strained but unbreakable bond to survive. Every creaking pipe and splash in the water heightens the tension, as the storm rages above and the predators lurk below.
Crawl is a pulse-pounding, high-stakes thriller that wastes no time plunging into suspense. With sharp direction, tight pacing, and visceral scares, it delivers both heart and horror. Kaya Scodelario gives a standout performance, anchoring the film with grit and emotional depth.
Brutal, intense, and surprisingly emotional, Crawl is a masterclass in survival horror—reminding us that when nature turns hostile, the real fight is staying human.
