Dangerous Waters (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews

The River Mild

[Theo Robertson · 5/10 · 17 November 2012]

A female expert on white water rafting takes her family on a rafting trip in the remote wilderness . The dream trip soon become's a nightmare as they run in to a couple of armed and desperate men .

Is the above the premise for DANGEROUS WATERS . Yes it is and coincidentally it's also the exact same premise for THE RIVER WILD as we're introduced to a wholesome all American family that only exist within these type of TVMs . How wholesome are they ? Well Mom chastises teenage daughter for smoking and daughter tries to excuse herself on the grounds that the lighter she uses is a keep sake for her late father . You see Mom is in fact a widow and the smiling happy go lucky dude is her partner rather than husband . She's opposed to smoking but not sex outside of marriage so I take it she's votes Democrat rather than Republican

It's important that her partner isn't someone she's known for many years because mindful how much the premise resembles THE RIVER WILD the story takes a different turn halfway through the running time . I have to confess that I'd had this down as a 100 per cent clone of the earlier film starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon so the producers of this TVM deserve some credit for making the teleplay go its own way . The problem is that is that it's too incredible to work even though it's a nice try

a good thriller

[dtucker86 · 25 October 2003]

I just got done watching this film on the ABC Family Channel and wanted to set down my observations on it while they are still fresh in my mind. Yes, I agree this film closely resembles The River Wild in it's plot. However, it is still good enough to stand on its on two feet. Connie Selleca is a wonderful actress who has never really been given the credit due her because she is more a product of television series and movies then theatrical releases. She gives a fine performance in this film and plays a real gutsy heroine just like the one that Meryl Streep did. This film is beautifully shot, I don't know where it was filmed at exactly, but its beautiful to look at. It reminded me of those Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom shows Marlin Perkins used to host. Also, the music is wonderful to listen to, it is expertly composed. The story moves along like a steamlined Greyhound bus, taut and suspenseful. The scriptwriters made Connie's character and her children really likeable. You really care about what happens to them when they are in danger and that is one of the basic rules when you are doing a thriller like this. You feel sorry for them because her husband had been killed in an accident. These characters are so lovable that you feel like screaming at the bad guys "IF YOU SO MUCH AS HARM ONE HAIR ON THEIR HEADS, I'LL KICK YOUR ASS". The ending of the film is a real nail chewer when the real villian is unmasked. SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT, it is the man that she trusted all along. He is a first class scumbag and you hate his guts. You are cheering for them in the final scene when they are coming close to the rapids. I guess that in the end there is a little bit of what you would call poetic justice. Connie goes down into that cave and finds his money bag and in the end when he tries to climb on the raft as they are going so close to those rapids, she throws it into the water and says "You want your money, go get it". He tries to get it and drowns as a result. His own selfish greed kills him. Its almost like Biblical justice. The two kid actors that play her children also do a good job as well. There is a difference between kids who act cute and who are cute as they are. You really care about them and you feel good at the ending when they are all safe and Connie says that the next time she dates a man, she will date someone boring and ask for at least three forms of identification. I suspected that this guy was involved from the beginning so there wasn't a lot of suspense, but this is still a good film.

Bad copy

[deadraque · 2/10 · 13 January 2003]

This is a very but very bad copy of "River Wild, The (1994)", the acting is ok but the script and the mistakes in this movie are so much and so clear that at the half way you really start to ask yourself if they doing such stupidity on purpose, i give you some examples of really absurd moments of the movie. So overall it is a very bad movie, but if you persist to have your own opinion about it, don't read further because from here on i will give some SPOILERS.

They looking for guys and police blocks the road, then we see them turning right because they go that way for they little day off just before the police setup, you really think the police wouldn't stop them to do a little control? Nope they seem like taking a coffee break there! Where in the hell did they get suddenly the extra lifeguards suits (sorry don't know exact name being French) ??? A moment she says when the helicopter fly's by that they don't control the River that's why they can't be seen!!! LOL that is the most stupid thing i heard, you really think they would not survey rivers? Specially when some escaped prisoners are around there. When they turn the boat he catches the gun, for what? because it won't work for a good while when it is in the water, second of all where in the name of god did they get the guns?

And more things all the way on like this... But the best and most stupid is the friend that suddenly turns against his so said love and kids, and believe me it isn't a stranger because at the end he explains much more about the kids you can imagine. Anyway some are really not scared to produce such crap.

Lame...

[moveeguy-849-45331 · 1/10 · 19 September 2010]

Just not very good. Despite beautiful river scenes and striking nature settings, the acting is stiff and unnatural. Even suspending belief for the purpose of dramatic effect, there's not enough substance (plot wise) to make it happen. Fortunately, it was a rerun on the local cable channel so I wasn't out the price of admission. What would have improved the show was different casting, a better script, and a more believable premise. Without giving away anything about the movie, (now very old since it was released in 1999), suffice it to say that the themes and movements of plot were frequently illogical, unbelievable, and untidy. Corny is not too strong a word on this one...

Howler of a film

[amckig · 1/10 · 29 February 2020]

Terrible, stiff, unnatural acting, with an even poorer script. Film had no substance. Saw the 'twist' coming a mile off. Astounding to me that it did not get done for massively, and poorly, plagerising from The River Wild. Avoid this waste of time.

Solid thriller with good performances

[quatermassandersen · 7/10 · 23 February 2000]

Dangerous Waters delivered a good solid thriller.

Connie Sellecca and Matt MCcoy stars and they were both very good. The film also had great locations on land and on water, the beautiful locations really heightened the entertainment value. Fine background music was another positive element.

All round the film gave me what I expect from a good thriller.

A clever and suspenseful thriller!

[chrishewittpiano · 10/10 · 19 July 2002]

This movie is so amazing because it only had 8 people in the entire film. Matt McCoy was so great as playing the role of "Bob Brown". Alana Austin, playing "Chrissie Slavin", was just as good in this as she was in "Motocrossed", a movie about motocross. She is great in this because she has to have a worried face on all the time. "Dangerous Waters" is so suspenseful that you can never predict what is going to happen next. It is very exciting and thrilling. And best of all, it was shot on a beautiful location of a mountainous surrounding next to a hard running river. The characters are described well and you begin to think what they are thinking or a "What would I do if I was in their shoes?" thought.

The 8 person cast was so amazing in playing their characters. And what strikes me as odd about this, is that they can make an awesome movie with only the 8 characters. The 4 in particular, which are the mains. The other thing that I wanted to tell about was the terrific camera angles. I noticed that in a few scenes they had the camera swerving around the characters so smoothly and creating an interesting effect. It even makes it more suspenseful and thrilling that way. The Director, Catherine Cyran, also wrote this movie. She did a great job of both parts. The directing and the writing. If this one would have made it big, I am sure that people would like it as much as I did. This movie also wouldn't have been as great if it wasn't for the outstandingly suspenseful and exciting music composed by Alex Wurman. It keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat.

Whoever likes thrill movies, this is a great one to watch. And if you see it with someone that has already seen it, don't let them spoil it. This is something that will make you want to keep watching. I saw this on ABC Family Channel, so it could be on again. This is one movie that deserves a 10/10 for it's suspense, music, actors and actresses, and capability to keep the audience watching.

Best River Movie Ever!

[darryl-jason · 10/10 · 26 March 2021]

Definitely my favourite movie. I watched it around the time it was released on television & just love it! Now I've managed to get a really good copy for myself.

The locations are just stunning. The music composed by Alex Wurman is just beautiful & really suits the movie. Very nice instrumental piece.

Sure the movie has very similarity to "The River Wild" (1994) starring Meryl Streep but this has its own twist in the story.

Been a long fan of Connie Sellecca for many years & just love her movies but this is definitely the best she's done. Definitely a thriller at its best! Superb acting, amazing story! & best river movie to date!

Good Time pass

[rajees · 8/10 · 26 January 2001]

I saw this movie accidentally on TV; I wasnt excited at first. But it was very well picturized and narrated. I really liked the cinemotography of the raft ride. It felt as though I was rafting; Excellent locations. Interesting twists; some slacks - the villian was so generous and lenient! Overall, it was a good time pass movie.