Open Water

Viewer Rating:Gerry Dunne has rated Open Water rating: 1.5 Star

Apart from a ponderous opening the film is set almost entirely on the ocean. However this is deliberate and crucial to the film. This is no exciting search and rescue movie. Neither is it a boat devouring 'Jaws' type of film. It's far more subtle and that's the beauty of it. Yes there are creatures nibbling at the ankles and plenty of man eating sharks, but it's more about fear, hope and companionship. One line from Susan ties in well when she refers to the sharks: “I don't know which is worse – seeing them or not seeing them”.  It's a sort 'Blair Witch Project' influenced by 'The Old Man and the Sea'. The two main actors Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis suit the part well mainly because they are relatively unknown. The Plot: Susan and Daniel embark on a dive trip while on holidays in the Caribbean. All is idyllic as they explore the reef and its fascinating creatures. But things take a sharp turn for the worst when they ascend to an empty ocean. A combination of circumstances combined to cause the skipper of the boat to depart with an assumed full head count. While they wait and hope to be rescued they have to endure the fear of dangerous creatures as well as time itself. What's good: It's realistic, almost as if a real situation was been filmed. What's bad: A few unnecessary camera angles? Rent it? Yes, there an awful lot worse out there.

Review published on the 09 March 2007 01:26