ENCOUNTERS IN THE DEEP opens with "eyewitness" UFO testimonials, followed by a naval vessel (aka: a toy boat) running into an otherworldly phenomenon. Lights flash! The boat bobbles in the roiling bathtub water!
Next, Mary (Carole Andre) and her new husband are on their way to the Bahamas, when..., lights flash! Fog and weird noises ensue! "Ooooh-Aaaah!" says Mary! Not-so-surprisingly, the toy boat and Mary vanish, leading to a search team being dispatched, including a Bermuda Triangle "expert" named Peters (Manuel Zarzo) and a skipper named Scott (Andres Garcia).
Divers dive, and nights are spent in palaver about extraterrestrials. Unearthly occurrences... occur. More diving. More weird sounds, like drunken whales calling for more drinks. Lights and fog return. An abandoned ship is boarded. More chatter, while a member of the crew goes bug-eyed!
Wait!
A doll is found! Could it -please- be a devil doll like the one in BERMUDA TRIANGLE? Nope, just a doll. Even more diving.
Oh no!
Lights! Bubbles, causing the divers to break into an impromptu water ballet! Etc. Ultimately, Peters and Scott make an astonishing discovery, making us wonder why they didn't bring any pants along in case of such an encounter.
This is a thoroughly ludicrous, underwater version of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, minus the thrills or thoughtful story of that classic. This movie does, however, have a big finale featuring a "mother ship". Well, okay, maybe it's more of an ugly stepmother ship...
