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IMDbPro

The Surface

  • 20142014
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The Surface (2014)
A chance meeting in the middle of Lake Michigan forces two desperate strangers, each on the brink of disaster, to confront their worst fears.
Play trailer1:30
2 Videos
15 Photos
  • Drama
  • Thriller
Two strangers, both at the end of their rope, suddenly meet in the middle of the unpredictable waters of Lake Michigan.Two strangers, both at the end of their rope, suddenly meet in the middle of the unpredictable waters of Lake Michigan.Two strangers, both at the end of their rope, suddenly meet in the middle of the unpredictable waters of Lake Michigan.
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Gil Cates Jr.
  • Writer
    • Jeff Gendelman
  • Stars
    • Mimi Rogers
    • Sean Astin
    • Chris Mulkey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gil Cates Jr.
  • Writer
    • Jeff Gendelman
  • Stars
    • Mimi Rogers
    • Sean Astin
    • Chris Mulkey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 35User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:30
    Official Trailer
    Exclusive Clip
    Clip 0:48
    Exclusive Clip

    Photos15

    Sean Astin in The Surface (2014)
    Chris Mulkey in The Surface (2014)
    Sean Astin in The Surface (2014)
    The Surface (2014)
    Sean Astin and Chris Mulkey in The Surface (2014)
    The Surface (2014)
    Sean Astin and Chris Mulkey in The Surface (2014)
    The Surface (2014)
    Sean Astin in The Surface (2014)
    Sean Astin in The Surface (2014)
    Sean Astin in The Surface (2014)
    Mimi Rogers and Chris Mulkey in The Surface (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mimi Rogers
    Mimi Rogers
    • Kimas Kim
    Sean Astin
    Sean Astin
    • Mitchas Mitch
    Chris Mulkey
    Chris Mulkey
    • Kellyas Kelly
    John Emmet Tracy
    John Emmet Tracy
    • Bank Manageras Bank Manager
    Elvis Thao
    • Factory Workeras Factory Worker
    Jeff Gendelman
    Jeff Gendelman
    • Johnas John
    Neil Willenson
    Neil Willenson
    • Nelson, Fox TV Cameramanas Nelson, Fox TV Cameraman
    Lisa Mihelich
    Lisa Mihelich
    • Cheering Fanas Cheering Fan
    Chike Johnson
    Rachel Renee
    • Laurieas Laurie
    David John Rosenthal
    • Fishermanas Fisherman
    Dylan Simon
    • Cheering Fanas Cheering Fan
    Megan Lorie
    • Amanda Enrightas Amanda Enright
    Sam Fuhrer
    • The Waterskieras The Waterskier
    Deleono Johnson
    • Factory Workeras Factory Worker
    Robert A. Smith
    Veronica Handeland
    • Bowling Alley Patronas Bowling Alley Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Adam Holbus
    • Cheering Fanas Cheering Fan
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Gil Cates Jr.
    • Writer
      • Jeff Gendelman
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Inspired by actual events.
    • Goofs
      After bringing Kelly on board his boat Mitch attempts to start his boat to take them home but the motor sputters and smokes and won't start. But when he pulls the motor up he finds that the prop has broken off which would not have caused the problems previously shown.
    • Quotes

      Kelly: When I was a child, my mother used to say to me, "If you had another brain, it would be lonesome." Talking to you, I finally understand what she meant.

    • Connections
      Edited into Gasparilla International Film Festival News Package (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Anytime That You Like
      Performed by Familiar Looking Strangers

      Written by Paul Baker

    User reviews35

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    Two Guys in a Boat
    Greetings again from the darkness. Survival movies come in many shapes and styles. There are classy ones like All is Lost (with Robert Redford) and Life of Pi (Academy Award nominee). There are thrilling ones like The Edge (with Alec Baldwin and Anthony Hopkins). And of course there are the kinda trashy ones that usually feature beautiful and clueless people stuck on an island somewhere like in Turistas (with Josh Duhamel).

    What we rarely see are survival movies that just don't have much going on. Open Water is about the closest to this latest from director Gil Cates, Jr and writer Jeff Gendelman, but at least that one offered the constant threat of a shark attack.

    Sad sack Mitch (Sean Astin) visits his Alzheimer's-stricken mom in the nursing home before heading out to the middle of Lake Michigan in what he plans as his final voyage in life. At the most inopportune time – given his goal – it's his boat that is rendered lifeless thanks to the scattered pieces of a plane crash. Mitch drags the survivor (Chris Mulkey) aboard and the two fellows proceed to prove that their philosophizing and reminiscing are no match for the conversational skills of a boy and his tiger (Life of Pi).

    Flashbacks are the key to us understanding the reasons these two crossed paths in such an unusual manner. We see Mitch's guilt and inability to be a worthy partner in a relationship, and we see pilot Kelly's desperation in trying to making ends meet for his family and regaining his confidence as a man.

    There are a couple of funny "guy" moments (the poet comment made me laugh), yet somehow the conversation of these two men in a life-threatening situation pales in comparison to the exchanges of two gents over a meal in My Dinner with Andre. Where is the danger? Where is the stress? Where is the soul-searching? It's unfortunate that the extended periods of two guys in a boat just don't have much to offer for the 86 minute run time, because the stage was set for much more than melodrama.
    helpful•44
    12
    • ferguson-6
    • May 22, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 16, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La superficie
    • Filming locations
      • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
    • Production company
      • Good Note Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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