Some films would be made better by watching them with a scientist. In the case of Survive, possibly a geologist or a physicist. But to be honest, the whole concept is so absurd anyone who has a relatively decent GCSE will probably do.

We meet a family with two teen children on the eve of their youngest son's 13th birthday, partying on their boat somewhere near the coast of Cuba. The family speaks English despite being a mix of French and German — a side effect of working and living in Miami.

Towards the end of the evening, a storm hits, with not just rain falling, but satellites! When they wake in the morning, the ocean has disappeared and been replaced with a vast desert. They soon realise that the polarity of the earth has been reversed; north is now south, and south is now north. This change has, somehow, caused all the water on earth to relocate to the land. This makes one assume that the earth is a bit like one of those popping fidget toys and all the land has been popped down because nothing else makes sense.

Anyway, of course, the first person they meet is a violent stabby psychopath, and after he disposes of the father in the family, the remaining mother and two children must trek across the vast desert to a yellow submarine which will be their salvation when the polarity re-reverses in twelve hours.

Now, two things could potentially have made this film work: humour (there is none) or social commentary (there isn't any, apart from perhaps some attempt at an environmental message that is never fully realised). Instead Survive takes itself painfully seriously, even when the cast is faced with deep sea crabs driven violently crazy by their new access to oxygen.

Ultimately, Survive is pretty dire; unintentionally funny, ridiculously realised, and blandly executed. But at least it's mercifully short.

Survive had its UK premiere at FrightFest 2024 on Saturday, August 24. It is available on Digital Platforms 30 September. Distributed by Signature Entertainment