A “masterpiece” Netflix drama has racked up over 37 million views in just days. Writer and director Tommy Wirkola’s new survival thriller is proving to be a hit with viewers.

Thrash takes place in a coastal town which faces a Category 5 hurricane, with the stranded residents forced to survive rapidly rising waters swarming with ravenous sharks. Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor leads the cast as expectant mother Lisa, who is trapped in the floods just as she’s going into labour.

She’s helped by Dakota (Whitney Peak), an agoraphobic young woman whose marine biologist uncle, Dale (Djimon Hounsou), races to save his niece while tracking the sharks that have invaded the town. The film’s cast also includes Matt Nable, Andrew Lees, Alyla Browne, Stacy Clausen, Dante Ubaldi, Sami Afuni, and Chai Hansen.

Thrash was released on Netflix last week (April 10). It has proved to be a success in terms of viewership as it tops the streamer’s worldwide and UK film chart.

The 90-minute scarefest topped the chart with an impressive 37.7 million views after just three days. Viewers have continued to share their praise online, with one IDMb user writing: “Everything I wanted from a shark movie. Everyone played the roles so well and the shark at the end is absolutely amazing. I wanted to cry. So stressed and anxiety was through the roof. Masterpiece.”

Another added: “Very suspenseful, had me on the edge of my seat in parts. Would definitely recommend and I would personally watch it again 100%. I struggle to keep my attention watching films at times but Thrash really kept me interested. There needs to be more films like this, I’m a huge horror fan and this has to be the best film I’ve seen in a while.”

A third said: “Thrash may never escape the label of a B movie thriller, but Dynevor refuses to treat it as one. Instead, she uses it as a stage to demonstrate that credibility is not dictated by genre or budget, but by commitment. Even in chaos, she remains compelling, proving once again that her talent does not depend on the material, it transforms it.”

A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “Thrash is yet another phenomenal shark movie from Netflix,” with another similarly sharing: “Easy fun weekend watch. Very entertaining.”

Despite striking a chord with viewers, Thrash has divided critics upon its release, with the film currently holding a 42% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is even lower, standing at just 24%.

The Hollywood Reporter said: “Nothing in Thrash is going to wow Steven Spielberg, and its adherence to plot logic is elastic to say the least. But as bloody, dumb shark thrillers go, it stays afloat,” with The Guardian adding: “Perhaps the best use of Thrash is to help sure those with galeophobia, proving that they’re really not that scary after all.”

Thrash is produced by Don’t Look Up and The Big Short director Adam McKay, as well as Kevin Messick. Speaking to Tudum, Kevin explained: “Tommy had this idea. He knew that McKay loves shark movies, and at some point, we were going to make one. And even then, several years ago, he was like, ‘What if we combine some of these things that are happening with the weather, with storms, with a shark movie?'”

Thrash is available to stream on Netflix