Kraken (2025) Review: Russian Submarine Monster Movie Dives Deep

This Kraken review starts with a simple promise: a big-budget Russian monster movie set under the Arctic waves. Director Nikolay Lebedev mixes submarine tension with creature-feature spectacle, and the result is a brisk, good-looking action ride. It is not subtle, but it knows what it wants to be.

Kraken Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Kraken plot begins when a Russian missile submarine disappears without a trace during a secret mission in the Greenland Sea. Navy command sends a search vessel after it, captained by Victor Voronin, whose brother commands the missing boat. The crew has two jobs: find the submarine and make sure its classified weapon never reaches an enemy.

Meanwhile, a geological research operation at the North Pole disturbs something in the deep. The film describes the Kraken as a giant creature with a remarkable talent for camouflage and an unsettling intelligence. As the searchers close in on the lost submarine, the two storylines head toward each other.

That setup is easy to follow, and it gives the film a clear personal stake alongside the military one. The first act moves quickly and does not waste time on lengthy explanations.

What Works in Kraken

The look of the film is its strongest asset. Early audience reactions single out the cinematography, and it is easy to see why: the icy seascapes are wide and cold, and the submarine interiors feel cramped and tense. For an action adventure, the film has a real sense of place.

• Pacing: At 134 minutes, it keeps moving, with action and mystery alternating rather than piling up.

• Creature concept: A monster that can blend into its surroundings is a smart fit for a submarine story, where sonar and silence matter.

• Personal stakes: The brother-searching-for-brother angle gives the military plot a human anchor.

Fans of action movie reviews will find plenty of familiar pleasures here, delivered with polish. The mystery element, built around the vanished submarine and its secret cargo, adds a layer beyond simple monster mayhem.

Kraken Cast and Performances

The Kraken cast is led by Alexander Petrov as Victor Voronin, the captain driving the rescue effort. Petrov plays him as a determined, driven officer rather than a flashy hero, which suits the story. Viewers have noted that the characters have more depth than the genre usually demands.

Aleksey Guskov appears as Rear Admiral Olshanskiy, and Sergey Garmash plays Admiral Belousov, adding veteran weight to the command-room scenes. Victor Dobronravov plays Aleksandr Voronin, the missing commander and Victor's brother. Diana Pozharskaya (Dzhuliya) and Anton Rival (Oscar) round out the principal cast.

Nobody here is asked to deliver Shakespeare, but the actors treat the material seriously. That commitment helps the more far-fetched moments land.

Where Kraken Stumbles

The film follows a familiar blueprint. If you have seen a submarine thriller or a creature feature, you will recognise many beats, and the script rarely tries to surprise you. Some dialogue leans on military cliché.

The tone can also wobble between serious Cold War-style tension and big, loud monster action. Those two modes do not always sit comfortably together. Viewers who want a grounded naval drama may find the creature elements too heavy, while monster fans may want even more of the beast.

With a cast this sizeable, a few characters get little room to develop, too. The film chooses momentum over nuance.

Is Kraken Worth Watching?

Yes, Kraken is worth watching if you enjoy sea-monster adventures and submarine tension. It is a polished, fast-moving film that looks far more expensive than its genre often suggests. Audience scores on TMDB sit at 7.1 out of 10, which matches our own take: solid, entertaining and a little predictable.

It will not rewrite the monster-movie rulebook, and it does not try to. What it offers is atmosphere, scale and a story with a clear emotional core. If you like mystery movie reviews with a dash of spectacle, it is a good evening's viewing.

For another recent genre title with a lean, propulsive feel, see our take on In Cold Light. Background details on the production are available on IMDb.

Who Will Enjoy Kraken

• Fans of creature features and underwater thrillers who want big visuals and steady momentum.

• Viewers curious about Russian blockbuster filmmaking and its handsome cinematography.

• Anyone who likes action stories driven by a family bond rather than pure spectacle.