Remember way back when Noyce was doing independent films? Yes, before the days of the Tom Clancy films et al, he was making great little films like this one.
Dead Calm is all about atmosphere. There is such a dark, brooding feel to every scene, that it almost upstages the great performances by the three leads. Zane and Neill are at their very best here, but again, they give way to Noyce's brilliant use of the ocean to create an uneasiness that makes every moment gripping.
As is often the case, the set-up is simple: a couple meets a stranger; the setting is vast but claustraphobic; and the cast is small. While the story is something of a rehashing of Polanski's "Knife in the Water", the directing is very much its own, and Zane's character carries the story in a much different direction.
This film isn't perfect, but it is a fantastic effort by all involved, and deserves at least one look--you'll want more!
Dead Calm is all about atmosphere. There is such a dark, brooding feel to every scene, that it almost upstages the great performances by the three leads. Zane and Neill are at their very best here, but again, they give way to Noyce's brilliant use of the ocean to create an uneasiness that makes every moment gripping.
As is often the case, the set-up is simple: a couple meets a stranger; the setting is vast but claustraphobic; and the cast is small. While the story is something of a rehashing of Polanski's "Knife in the Water", the directing is very much its own, and Zane's character carries the story in a much different direction.
This film isn't perfect, but it is a fantastic effort by all involved, and deserves at least one look--you'll want more!