Some true stories are so outlandish that they could not have actually taken place. Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster, a recent Netflix documentary by writer-producer Mark Monroe, is one of those examples. It looks at the soaring aspirations of one influential CEO, Stockton Rush, which resulted in a completely human disaster.

Concerning the disaster

The mysterious disappearance of the Titan submersible sparked a flurry of online discussion and reporting during the summer of 2023. The tragic incident took the lives of Sulaiman Dawood, the son of Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood; French Titanic specialist Paul-Henri Nargeolet; British billionaire Hamish Harding; OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush; and Sulaiman Dawood. The documentary is heavy with information about the catastrophe, as if it were a death knell anticipating to be heard. Rather, it is an inquiry into why such a catastrophe occurred in the first place when it could have been completely prevented.

The failing point

This catastrophe was not unexpected. The documentary makes it clear that there were obvious indicators and numerous warnings that were ignored for as long as possible and with no repercussions, as it progresses in sobering detail through decades-long archival footage, video interviews, audio messages, and legal proceedings. At the heart of this is CEO Stockton Rush's frustrating ambition, as he proceeded with the concept of constructing the Titan's central cylinder out of carbon fibre rather than the traditional titanium.

Numerous employees and engineers expressed their disagreement, and they had no alternative but to depart when such a serious matter was not adequately addressed. Throughout the course of the documentary, it revisits this moment several times, emphasizing the central group’s cult-like dedication to the lead voice as the reason it proceeded with the mission despite any obstacles.

Concluding Remarks

Titan: The Oceangate Disaster advances with assurance and composure, having been carefully edited with a clear point-of-view addressing the many issues that arose long before the actual implosion. However, the movie oddly stays cold in analyzing the global reaction to this disaster.

At its core, the film is about how the powerful (like big swinging d***, as Rush intended to be) escape unscathed in the real world, as much as it is about a really shocking disaster. Lives were lost because of the egregious neglect of numerous safety and regulatory issues in the area where the powerful made their choices. This is just one particular, inescapable tragedy—but there are countless microaggressions that occur daily, crucible to the destiny of the ordinary individual. They are the only ones to whom rules apply.

Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster is currently streaming on Netflix.