"Kraken" is a cinematic undersea monster action adventure from Russia.

As is so often the case with Russian film's, the cinematography in Kraken is top notch. Scenes are beautifully rendered and expansively visual, bringing to life the notion of a Russian nuclear submarine playing a deadly game of cat and mouse, with a mythical sea monster, as they struggle to complete a deep sea, rescue mission.

Convincing characterisations, that have personal depth and complexity, elevate this tale beyond the confines of a simple action flick. That's not to say there is not a lot going on. This film is well paced, with an abundance of action and adventure, that keeps things rolling along.

Perhaps the only downside I could find were aspects of the CGI. The whales, for example, ended up looking like giant sea slugs.

In summary, Kraken is a surprisingly compelling monster action adventure, in an ocean of underwater monster flicks,that, more often than not, end up feeling silly and unconvincing. Most definitely worth a look.