Seldom have I seen a warts-and-all argument between boyfriend and girlfriend portrayed with such verisimilitude.
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
This 'body clench' of a movie relies only on its stars' ability to brave the waters with scores of real reef and bull sharks...to achieve its scares
Open Water is based on true events, except for the cleavage which falls under the category of artistic license.
Open Water is much less "sensational" than Jaws or Deep Blue Sea, but that doesn't mean it isn't a sensational movie just the same.
Its micro storytelling style makes Jaws look overblown and dull by comparison.
Disappointed by the sheer obviousness of the prologue, I frankly couldn't wait to hustle these two into harm's way...And yet, Open Water is still a pretty tasty morsel.
Forget those Hollywood horror flicks with their manufactured terrors. Open Water will scare you out of the water.
We, the audience, shuffle out of the theater, feeling drained and punished.
As the clock ticks on, the sharks thresh and the dialogue continues to stagnate, you might just catch yourself wickedly thinking: Come on sharks, let's do this.
It's a very pure, basic kind of terror, nail-bitingly fun to watch; made more so by the startling realism of the sharks.
The nagging desire to help these people underscores the involvement of the audience in this superbly told story. You can almost taste the saltwater, and the fear.
Not bad at all (the music is a little trite), but where is the incentive to experience it? Less a horror film than a misery spree.
Genuinely frightening and tightly constructed thriller, which holds you till the final frame.
Many will find it excruciatingly suspenseful. I, on the other hand, was on the side of sharks.
Like The Blair Witch Project, to which it's rightfully compared, Open Water is a fascinating experiment in both filmmaking technology and narrative style, but one that can be counted a success only in limited ways.
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 |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
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

TECHLAND gives us a first look at the extras, including Leonard Nimoy's last day on set!

AV Club looks at a beloved cult classic, Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.

TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.

Moviefone lists their choices for the least attractive men in Hollywood.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic


