As the characters begin to openly suffer, the movie becomes a grueling record of their pain and fear. It ultimately feels futile as well as pointlessly punishing.
Open Water (2004)
Tomatometer
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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
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Reviews for Open Water
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water again, along comes Open Water, the scariest seagoing shocker since Jaws.
The Blair Shark Project is supposedly 'based on actual events' – which proves the Quentin Crisp dictum that 'even the worst movie is at least better than real life.'
as terrifying as anything you're likely to see this year, but not in the manner you might expect
More inspried by gimmickry than by storytelling, Open Water never develops characters that equals the weight of their situation.
While the film never truly terrified me, it did leave me thinking about the tenuous nature of human life.
There's not much here, but Open Water capitalizes on its slightness...[lets] our imagination do most of the work of putting the actors in sharks' way.
Suffice to say this is so unengaging that you will find yourself rooting for the sharks and the jellyfish.
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.**
The characters feel real, the setting feels wet, & the fatal mistakes feel huge. I was scared out of my wits, but it was highly enjoyable, and very well executed.
The performances are punishingly realistic and are aided by the fact that the actors truly fear for their lives.
Don't go to this film expecting to be thrilled, excited or frightened ... Expect to feel what it is like to be on the wrong end of the food chain.
I came out of this movie in shock. With a minimum or lack of special effects it managed to scare the heck out of me.
Kudos to writer/director Chris Kentis... He really doesn't utilize much shark footage, but he certainly knows how to space it out for maximum effect.
What makes Open Water an exemplary thriller is that it’s rooted in humanity.
When "The Blair Witch Project" and "Jaws" are combined, you get "Open Water."
There are no Hollywood heroes in these waters, only two regular people ... plus you and me, huddling in the dark.
An unnerving 'What if?' scenario that you won't be able to shake -- from either your dreams or your waking thoughts.
Latest News for Open Water
August 17, 2007:
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October 26, 2006:
RT's Top 20 Halloween Movie Countdown, Part 1
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 77% 77% | The Hangover |
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
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