Stunning and harrowing.
Open Water (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:187
Fresh:134
Rotten:53
Average Rating:6.6/10
Consensus: A low budget thriller with some intense moments.
Runtime: 81 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Theatrical Release:Aug 6, 2004 Limited
Box Office: $30,500,882
Synopsis: Proving that the power of imagination is much more terrifying than what meets the eye, OPEN WATER is Chris Kentis's intensely realistic deep-sea drama, "based on true events." The film's leering... Proving that the power of imagination is much more terrifying than what meets the eye, OPEN WATER is Chris Kentis's intensely realistic deep-sea drama, "based on true events." The film's leering digital video camera allows viewers to float like shark-bait, stranded in the middle of the ocean with Susan and Daniel (Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis), a bickering married couple who have just been abandoned by their scuba-diving boat in the Caribbean. As the tension escalates between the troubled twosome--who are cold, tired, dehydrated, and more than a little scared--the tragedy of the situation is exacerbated by a series of very unfortunate conditions. While a current sweeps them far from where the boat left them, and deep dark clouds pass menacingly overhead, the sea-life just below the surface is clearly not of the friendly variety. Yes, those are real sharks, folks. Meanwhile, Daniel, who watched Shark Week on television, is no stranger to the perils at hand, and finds himself battling shock. Minutes pass like hours, with the light shifting on the water and the constant motion of the waves adding to this unfathomable nightmare. The shimmering blues of wide expanses of sea are offset by dazzling underwater photography, yet the mood remains bleak. And while no special effects, abrupt developments, or abrasive gore are present here, the film instills such fear that viewers will be frozen awaiting the surprising conclusion. A day at the beach will never be quite the same again. [More]
Starring: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein, Estelle Lau
Starring: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein, Estelle Lau, Michael E. Willimson, Christina Zenarro, Jon Charles
Director: Chris Kentis
Director: Chris Kentis
Producer: Laura Lau
Studio: Lions Gate Films
Get This Movie
Reviews for Open Water
Jaws... has nothing on this thing, which features up-close underwater photography of a school of sharks brushing up against our hapless divers' legs.
Writer/director Chris Kentis ekes genuine tension from little more than a pair of luckless yuppies and a relentless, unforgiving body of water.
'Creatividad y un guión inteligente reemplazan la falta de presupuesto para crear un producto de buena calidad'
No special effects, no gimmicks, a tight 79-minute running time and REAL sharks is all that's needed to make viewers squirm to the edge of their seats.**
An unnerving 'What if?' scenario that you won't be able to shake -- from either your dreams or your waking thoughts.
Its micro storytelling style makes Jaws look overblown and dull by comparison.
This example of minimalist stunt filmmaking doesn't add up to much, but the filmmakers deserve credit for their diabolically simple, inexpensive and effective premise...
Open Water delivers enough to make it worthwhile for those jonesing for a chill.
Despite its flaws, I welcome Open Water with great enthusiasm, because it offers genuine scares and chills without the self-aware, packaged feel of many horror/thriller films.
I'm here to tell you that Jaws is nothing. Jaws is now merely Flipper: Episode 127.
As a self-proclaimed shark-movie junkie, Open Water brilliantly taps into that ultimate fear of what lurks down below.
This is the stuff nightmares are made of. It's also a lesson in how shoe-string budgets need not mean limited dramatic effect.
Forget those vague, attention-grabbing warnings from the White House about Al-Qaeda operatives in our midst. For a true Terror Alert, look no further than Open Water.
Open Water is not the terror masterpiece that many are claiming it to be.
A fantastic gimmick - too bad nobody ever bothered to develop it into an actual, like, movie.
Latest News for Open Water
August 17, 2007:
The Weekly Ketchup: First look at The Dark Knight, Jurassic Park IV details, hope for The Hobbit
In this week's Ketchup, we get a special first look at The Dark Knight, a rather unfortunate look at the Jurassic Park IV plot details, and good news for Tolkien fans. More...
December 08, 2006:
The Weekly Ketchup: "Spider-Man 3" Teasers, "Pirates 3" Pics And Rumors, "Transformers" Images, And More!
In this week's Ketchup, we just can't get enough of those tidbits from the upcoming third installments of "Spider-Man" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" and the... More...
October 26, 2006:
RT's Top 20 Halloween Movie Countdown, Part 1
Just what does Rotten Tomatoes deem the all-time scariest horror flick? Is it a gruesome slasher that results in heightened anxiety and sudden spine-tingling jolts and jumps?... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Open Water at Rotten Tomatoes
- Open Water at IGN
- Open Water at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

MSN Movies offers a little background on the success of Disney Animation.

TIME takes a look back at the history of vampires on film.

Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.

AOL put together a list of 10 recent news items that would be perfect as TV Movies.

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill explores how remakes and reboots have warped our thinking.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic


