A short budget underwater movie packing cheap FX to make regular-size fish seem like deep-sea giants , little emotion , and being nothing special . The Scientist Project Neptune team is doing oceanographic research under control of commander Dr Andrews (Walter Pidgeon). Then an underwater ocean lab is missing in a earthquake . After the catastrophe they're trapped too deep for divers , the only chance to rescue them is an aquatic research team by means of an advanced submarine . It is sent down to find the remains of the lab on the ocean floor a new US Navy mini-sub . In search for their colleagues the crew is piloted by the demanding Cdr Blake USN. Blake (Ben Gazzarra) , Chief Diver MacKay (Ernest Borgnine) , Diver Cousins (Donnelly Rhodes) , and beautiful Dr. Jansen (Yvette Mimieux) . Along the way they find risks , periculous adventures and outrageous beings of marine wildlife.
Low budget disaster movie with submarine adventures carried out by a brave team of an experimental deep-sea sub , thrills , sea monsters and fantasy . Poor special effects , as the giant monsters result to be simple optically enhanced marine wildlife . Runtime is adequate , the flick is slow moving and a little boring , as well as a bit monotonous and little interesting with a series of dumb plot ideas written by Jack DeWitt . There are suspense , thriller and tension , though the scenario is mostly developed into the mini sub to attempt the rescue . Tense and exciting at times and climatic ending , but lot of minutes are superfluous , though agreeable enough.
Here stands out the thrilling and adequate musical score by the classic composer of the 60s and 70s Lalo Schifrin . As well as colorful cinematography by Harry Makin . The motion picture was midddlingly directed by Daniel Petrie with many holes , flaws and gaps . He was a director and producer, known for The bay boy (1984) , A raisin in the sun (1961) , Harry S. Truman: Plain Speaking (1976) , Sybil (1976) , My name is Bill W. (1989) , The Assistant (1997) , Wild Iris (2001) . Daniel explored difficult filmmaking subjects ahead of his time , including A raisin in the sun (1961), which dealt with racism, and The Doll Maker (1984) , which dealt with women as breadwinners . Petrie also served in a number of leadership positions with the Directors Guild of America. Rating The Neptuno Factor : 4/10 . Very mediocre . Only for fans of the famous actors .
