Open Water (2003)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Chris Kentis

Writer:

Chris Kentis (written by)

Release Date:

20 August 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Drifting into theaters this summer.

Plot:

Based on the true story of two scuba divers accidentally stranded in shark infested waters after their tour boat has left.

Plot Keywords:

Scuba Diving | Nude Wearing Glasses | Husband Wife Relationship | Stranded | Loss Of Husband

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Blanchard Ryan	...	Susan
Daniel Travis	...	Daniel
Saul Stein	...	Seth
Michael E. Williamson	...	Davis (as Michael Williamson)
Cristina Zenarro	...	Linda (as Cristina Zenaro)
John Charles	...	Junior (as Jon Charles)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some nudity.

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:10 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bahamas

Company:

Plunge Pictures LLC

Trivia:

"Below" and "Beneath" were two titles considered before director Chris Kentis decided on "Open Water".

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Daniel and Susan first submerge, they are still talking to each other despite having regulators in their mouths.

Quotes:

Susan: [surfacing from the water] Where's the boat. Daniel. Where's the boat?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005)

Soundtrack:

I Ain't Got Long

Best homegrown film in years

It seems a lot of people were expecting "Jaws" when they rented "Open Water". This is no monster movie. It's a quietly intense psychological film, that works amazingly well. The fact that it was literally shot without a crew makes it nearly a miracle of a movie.

I was pretty impressed by the cast, especially Susan (Blanchard Ryan). It isn't often that two unknown actors can carry a film so well. Their emotions are very real which really adds to the tension.

I'm pretty sure the director (Chris Kentis) will go on to make some good bigger budget movies. He's got a real knack for building suspense. I was also impressed with the organic structure of the narrative. You're not really sure where it's taking you, which only adds more to the horror of what eventually happens. Kentis' dialog writing seems to be the weakest aspect of the movie. Some of the dialog the actors have to (literally) spew is awkward and extraneous, sort of a failed comic relief. In a no-budget movie that's often the case. Hell, that's often the case in big budget movies. Overall the movie is very successful and all involved have received just praise.