‘Titan: The OceanGate Disaster’ Review: Netflix Doc Depicts High-End Deep Sea Exploration With a Lethal Price Tag

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Two years ago, a heartbreaking incident garnered global attention, though not always with compassion. The catastrophic collapse of submersible Titan during its descent towards the deep-sea tourist attraction, the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic, resulted in the loss of five lives, among them Stockton Rush, co-founder and CEO of OceanGate, the company that owned the vessel. Although it took some time to verify their fate, a controversial story soon surfaced: Eager for fame as a high-tech explorer, Rush allegedly disregarded safety concerns and even dismissed (or replaced) those who warned him that the craft he had designed wasn’t safe, leading his affluent clients into a potentially dangerous situation.

Indeed, Rush had expressed dissatisfaction earlier that U.S. regulations he evaded were excessively prioritizing passenger safety over commercial innovation. This was a belief he adhered to – ultimately, it led to his demise. This tragic narrative remains unaltered in “Titan: The OceanGate Disaster,” a Netflix documentary premiered at Tribeca, by director Mark Monroe.

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Rush had voiced discontent about U.S. regulations he circumvented, stating they overemphasized passenger safety relative to commercial innovation. This stance guided him – eventually proving fatal for Rush. The grim reality of these events is not altered in “Titan: The OceanGate Disaster,” a Netflix documentary by director Mark Monroe that debuted at Tribeca.

In my opinion, it could be rephrased as follows:

I found the narrative to be somewhat lengthy but gripping nonetheless, reminiscent of other nonfiction disaster accounts like “The Rescue” from National Geographic’s Tham Luang cave flooding film. However, unlike “The Rescue,” it lacked an inspirational slant and, naturally, the actual rescue itself. Another fitting comparison could be drawn to Werner Herzog’s “Grizzly Man.” Just like that film, this is a portrayal of a self-driven tragedy where one individual bears the brunt of the posthumous condemnation.

It’s evident from the surviving footage that Rush presented himself as self-assured and competent. He seemed to relish the limelight and was always ready with a cheerful take-charge demeanor when the camera was on him. However, less favorable aspects of his character are based on others’ recollections, suggesting a man who believed in his own genius (though this is debatable) and would shift blame to others when his decisions proved flawed. Bonnie Carl, a former OceanGate bookkeeper, recalls Rush aspiring to be like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, using the term “big swinging dicks” to describe them, which he apparently found appealing. The most honorable figure in the footage is David Lochridge, the company’s Director of Marine Operations who later attempted to blow the whistle, expressing at the end that Rush sought fame and indeed achieved it.

Initially, Rush wasn’t the pioneer in organizing luxury tours to the Titanic, located around 3,800 meters below sea level, roughly 370 miles from the Newfoundland coast. The undertaking was complex, as one can imagine. His innovative concept was to minimize craft weight and cost by employing carbon fiber instead of heavy titanium for the hull structure. However, this composite material hadn’t been utilized for such purposes before, particularly not at such profound ocean depths. Miniature microphones were set up within the Titanic to amplify the sounds of those fibers breaking under intense pressure, serving as a warning system for the crew regarding potential perils. Some of those recordings still exist, and their eerie quality is reminiscent of being trapped inside a popping popcorn tin.

Despite financial worries or stubborn eagerness, Rush disregarded these ominous signs as if they were trivial. Overconfident in his engineering abilities, similar to his overconfidence as a pilot (he had once come close to trapping another famous wreck, the Andrea Doria), he deliberately evaded scrutiny by not affiliating Titan with any specific country. He also declined to allow it to be inspected by an outside party for safety ratings and exploited the lack of regulation in international waters.

At first, OceanGate’s team members were exceptional, but as they raised concerns about unresolved dangers, some chose to resign while others were let go. In certain instances, these positions were filled by inexperienced graduates straight from college. If Lochridge was the only experienced member who attempted to prevent a catastrophe following his dismissal, it’s suggested here that he did so because Rush, the deep-pocketed owner, allegedly threatened to “destroy” anyone who betrayed the company. (Indeed, Rush did sue Lochridge, and he dropped his complaint when confronted with the possibility of bankruptcy due to legal fees.)

Rush himself is not available to comment on the matter. Instead, we hear from his wife Wendy (who was deeply connected with OceanGate), his children, and some significant figures from OceanGate declined interviews. However, numerous former associates and spectators share their insights, even those who provided testimony during ongoing official investigations. Despite the tragic tale they unfold, there’s a palpable sense of enthusiasm and idealism that initially drew them in, and kept them engaged until it became apparent that their leader was stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the risks at hand.

In a thrilling turn of events, I managed to secure an exceptional deal on a popular morning show network. Excitedly, I declared to journalist David Pogue, “I truly believe luck is my top asset.” Unfortunately, our streak of success came to an end during the third season’s premiere on June 18, 2023, of the Titan. Despite having completed five successful voyages over the past two years, numerous experts repeatedly warned about impending structural collapse – a grim reality I refused to acknowledge. It’s worth noting that passengers forking out more than $100,000 for their trip were required to sign waivers acknowledging the possibility of mortality multiple times.

Towards the end, Monroe’s narrative seems to lose some intensity. This could be due to the lack of footage or audio from the final, tragic journey, or maybe because there isn’t much information about the unfortunate passengers beyond Rush and Paul-Henri Nargeolet (alongside Hamish Harding, a British aviator-adventurer, Shahzada Dawood, a Pakistani businessman, and his 19-year-old son Suleman). As a result, the climax of the story lacks suspense since we already know the outcome. Despite their insightful testimonies, both in and out of court, the interviews become somewhat repetitive, and the production could have benefited from a more streamlined approach.

The material is still captivating, serving as a warning tale and a glimpse into the brave spirit that propels individuals into daring explorations. The allure of the ocean’s secrets (and the enduring romance of the Titanic) is vividly portrayed. It can be challenging to distinguish between new and archival visual content due to their high-quality, recent nature. Andrew Skeet and Nathan Klein’s original orchestral score effectively establishes a somber, foreboding atmosphere.

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2025-06-07 08:17