Crawl

During a ferocious hurricane that batters Florida, Haley defies evacuation orders to search for her father. She finds him badly injured, and the pair are swept into a city flooded beyond recognition. With the storm still raging and the clock ticking, they scramble to stay ahead of collapsing structures and raging currents, as the water keeps rising. What starts as a bid to save one family member becomes a strained test of endurance, resourcefulness, and trust as they navigate submerged streets and confined spaces. Every decision feels like a choice between life and death, and the bond between daughter and father is the film's quiet fulcrum as they fight to reach safety. The pace never relents and every choice matters.

Directed by Alexandre Aja, Crawl is an original screenplay from Michael and Shawn Rasmussen. The tense creature thriller arrived in 2019, distributed by Paramount Pictures, delivering a survival tale set against a ferocious Florida hurricane and claustrophobic floodwaters that follow.

Crawl more than doubles its modest budget, earning about 91.5 million worldwide against a 13.5 million production cost. The film benefited from strong genre appeal and a brisk, claustrophobic pace that sustained audience tension from start to finish throughout globally.

Crawl stands out for its practical effects and relentless tempo, turning a flooded Florida town into a perilous maze. Critics and fans noted its old school thriller vibe and the way the alligator menace intensified the pressure cooker feel of the flood scenario, earning a loyal following among horror fans.

Critics gave Crawl a mix of praise and caveats, appreciating its focus on survival over sentiment and its tight runtime. The film explores themes of parental protection, resilience, and human ingenuity when faced with nature's indiscriminate fury, while never losing sight of the personal stakes for Haley and her father.