Have you ever read Nathaniel Philbrick's book, In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex?  It's a riveting tale of survival that goes to some wildly dark, disturbing places that you won't soon forget and this first trailer for Ron Howard's big screen rendition certainly reflects that.  Back in 1820 the whaleship Essex was rammed by an angry whale in the South Pacific.  Those who survived the attack drifted for more than 90 days in three small whaleboats during which many fell victim to disease, hunger and cannibalism.

Not only does this new promo for the film boast some stunning cinematography with a striking and tonally appropriate color palette, but it also functions as a particularly effective tease of the narrative.  It does reveal a good deal of action and destruction, but rather than sensationalize the tale to build interest, it keeps the characters in the forefront, and that's what could make the feature a standout.  Hit the jump to watch the In the Heart of the Sea trailer.  The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Tom Holland, Brendon Gleeson, Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw, and Jordi Molla.  In the Heart of the Sea opens in theaters on March 13, 2015.

Here’s the official synopsis for In the Heart of the Sea:

In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance.  The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick.  But that told only half the story.  “Heart of the Sea” reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive.  Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.