Chart-Topping Hulu Horror Film Terrifies Viewers: “Now I’m Scared”

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Jan 17, 2025
Dead Sea Hulu

Philip Noyce’s Dead Calm is one of the last century’s best thrillers. Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman, and Billy Zane are a heavenly trio, and the high-seas tension is some of the sweetest around. Last year’s Netflix hit Nowhere, in which a woman was trapped inside a floating cargo container, culled considerable suspense from its high-concept premise. There should be more oceanic horror and thrillers. More Ghost Ship and more Death Ship (a fantastic cruise line shocker from the 1980s), please. Well, if you’re desperate for more deep-sea terror, Hulu might have just what you’re looking for. 

Phil Volken’s Dead Sea, starring Dean Cameron, is currently the most-watched thriller on the platform. In fact, Dead Sea is the only genre title in the Top 10. Kind of the antithesis to something like The Polar Express (also charting), though that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? 

Dead Sea is akin to Turistas for a new generation. I still have that film’s tagline stuck in my head. “Go home.” Brilliant stuff. Dead Sea opts for the open ocean and a suspicious fishing vessel in lieu of a tropical paradise, but the core concept is the same—madmen want to harvest your organs.

Check out more about Dead Sea below: 

Per Hulu: Stranded in the open sea after a fatal accident, a young woman and her two friends are rescued by a fishing vessel’s captain, unaware that the ship harbors a chilling secret.

While Dead Sea has steadily floated toward the top of the Hulu charts, that’s not to say it’s been a bonafide success with audiences. Presently, the film’s audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is a meager 41%. Still, if you’re looking to juxtapose the cheer of the holiday season with something decidedly grimmer, you could do a lot worse. Online audiences are finding Dead Sea more positive, with viewers highlighting the scares (and perhaps unfortunate sexploitation):  

While it’s hard to say whether Dead Sea will endure in the zeitgeist beyond its Hulu chart-topping success, it’s always great to see the genre defy expectations.

What do you think? Have you had a chance to check out Dead Sea? Is it worth it? What else is worth catching on Hulu? Let me know what you think over on Twitter @Chadiscollins. And stay out of the ocean! Nothing good can come from it. 

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