Survival stories are some of the most compelling stories out there. A person or two stranded in an untamed wilderness, forced to brave the elements with nothing but whatever’s on their backs. Following up the director’s previous film, 2015’s Everest, another true story survival film, Baltasar Kormakur’s Adrift tells the true story of a young couple stranded in the middle of the ocean after their ship gets devastated in a hurricane, as the two attempt to find land with nothing but their damaged ship and whatever resources they have left.

It is through this story that Kormakur shines as a director, not just in his beautiful cinematography, but also in how he directs his actors and characters. Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin as the shipwrecked couple have solid chemistry and very likable personalities, making their relationship believable and allows audiences to be invested in their struggles. Woodley is forced to be the active one, as Claflin suffers with a severe flesh wound on his leg, and her battles against the elements work so well due to her performance, showcasing the hopelessness of her situation, while also being crafty and capable of the film’s many dangers.

That being said, the downside of this film is the structure of the film itself. Throughout the film, it cuts to both the couple and their struggles in the middle of the ocean, as well as flashbacks which lead into how the two met and the inevitable hurricane attack. There’s a purpose to this framing device, as it leads into a truly well-done third act, but the editing within these sequences are rather choppy at moments. At one moment, the film depicts Woodley desperately trying to find food and a way to help her fiance, and then out of nowhere, it cuts to the two dancing at a party. It becomes incredibly distracting, and initially hurts a lot of the emotional tension, as the viewer is unable to truly grasp Woodley and Claflin’s relationship. It does get better as time goes on, largely because viewers are now growing more accustomed to their relationship, but it still makes the film tiresome and a bit of a hassle when it begins.

Regardless, the most important element of Adrift is the relationship between its lead characters, and it is done very well, thanks to its actors, helping to elevate what could have been a very dull survival feature into something enjoyable with a solid amount of charm.