- Review: John Wick 3 (C)
Scott Sycamore - Weekend Box Office
May 17 - 19 - Crowd Reports
Avengers: Endgame - Us
Box office comparisons - Review: Justice League (C)
Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Open Water
By Lee Tistaert Published August 9, 2004
US Release: August 6, 2004
Directed by: Chris Kentis
Starring: Daniel Travis , Blanchard Ryan
R
Running Time: 79 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $30,501,000
Directed by: Chris Kentis
Starring: Daniel Travis , Blanchard Ryan
R
Running Time: 79 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $30,501,000
B
13 of 120
Being a fan of this type of psychological terror, I loved its floor plan and the route it eventually ventured in the storytelling, but this route is not everyone?s cup of tea.
Open Water is a film that can get different responses depending upon the expectations that the viewer has walking in. This isn?t for the average horror movie fans, as much of the impact can come psychologically rather than directly, which is a tactic not everyone likes.
This film might not get the same frustrating responses as The Blair Witch Project received once it expanded nationwide, though there are a few touches in the story that might retrieve such a reaction. There?s a moment or two in the ocean that got a few chuckles from the audience, and I didn?t find them funny, but realistic; I couldn?t tell if it was the difference in taste in what can be found humorous, or if those people found it unintentionally funny. But for the most part, this audience sat silent, just watching, which can be a positive indication.
Open Water is 80 minutes long, and much of that running time consists of two people stranded in the middle of the ocean, trying to survive. It may be hard to imagine such an approach working without getting repetitive, but this film can prove you wrong, and that is why this project has had increasing buzz. However, be aware that a movie like Open Water isn?t for everyone, and in a way it?s for those who dug Blair Witch. But I can see other people who weren?t fans of that, liking this, so it?s a tough thing to really say for sure.
This premise is based on the true story of two scuba divers who went on vacation to a resort island for a diving trip with a tour group. After the couple finished their diving expedition into the deep ocean, they came up to the surface of the water only to find their tour boat gone from sight. Stranded there with nothing but their swimming equipment on, they had to battle the dangers that lurked in their surrounding perimeters, and hopefully find any boat they could.
Open Water is a film that can either make you very uneasy with its claustrophobia factor given that most of the time we have an intimate look at these two people, or make you disappointed that not everything you thought was going to happen does. I say this because the trailer makes their survival look pretty thrilling, when in fact the pace is rather slow, but deliberately so.
The manner in which the events occur is very realistic, and not quite in the pace you might expect in Hollywood terms. This movie isn?t for those who crave immediate scares, but who like to ?imagine? the terror. There are some moments that can jolt you, but it?s the anticipation of those moments as we wait in silence that induces the impact.
Much like Blair Witch, there is a human drama element to the story. These scenes can either play well with the viewer if they have ?bought? the setup, or can come off as just stupid depending on what movie you were expecting to get. I found the couple?s conversations in the ocean very realistic, and the arc of the story was very believable to imagine in such a situation.
Similarly, The Blair Witch Project managed to really rattle my nerves with the suggestive horror and make all my potential trips to the woods even more intimidating. Open Water doesn?t entirely do that with the ocean, or achieve quite the level of Jaws (B+), but it got me.
And even despite that, Open Water still had me in tight grips the entire way through, something that few movies of its genre accomplish. I was ready for anything to happen just a few moments after they were deserted, which is a factor that I really dug, and the silent suspense really creates this mood splendidly.
The ending can also spark different reactions, as some will find it incredibly eerie, while others may feel indifferently. Being a fan of this type of psychological terror, I loved its floor plan and the route it eventually ventured in the storytelling, but this route is not everyone?s cup of tea. Open Water is more so for the artsy film crowd who appreciate unconventional storytelling, in that the surprises aren?t what ?does? happen throughout, but what ?doesn?t? happen that only goes on your mind.
This film might not get the same frustrating responses as The Blair Witch Project received once it expanded nationwide, though there are a few touches in the story that might retrieve such a reaction. There?s a moment or two in the ocean that got a few chuckles from the audience, and I didn?t find them funny, but realistic; I couldn?t tell if it was the difference in taste in what can be found humorous, or if those people found it unintentionally funny. But for the most part, this audience sat silent, just watching, which can be a positive indication.
Open Water is 80 minutes long, and much of that running time consists of two people stranded in the middle of the ocean, trying to survive. It may be hard to imagine such an approach working without getting repetitive, but this film can prove you wrong, and that is why this project has had increasing buzz. However, be aware that a movie like Open Water isn?t for everyone, and in a way it?s for those who dug Blair Witch. But I can see other people who weren?t fans of that, liking this, so it?s a tough thing to really say for sure.
This premise is based on the true story of two scuba divers who went on vacation to a resort island for a diving trip with a tour group. After the couple finished their diving expedition into the deep ocean, they came up to the surface of the water only to find their tour boat gone from sight. Stranded there with nothing but their swimming equipment on, they had to battle the dangers that lurked in their surrounding perimeters, and hopefully find any boat they could.
Open Water is a film that can either make you very uneasy with its claustrophobia factor given that most of the time we have an intimate look at these two people, or make you disappointed that not everything you thought was going to happen does. I say this because the trailer makes their survival look pretty thrilling, when in fact the pace is rather slow, but deliberately so.
The manner in which the events occur is very realistic, and not quite in the pace you might expect in Hollywood terms. This movie isn?t for those who crave immediate scares, but who like to ?imagine? the terror. There are some moments that can jolt you, but it?s the anticipation of those moments as we wait in silence that induces the impact.
Much like Blair Witch, there is a human drama element to the story. These scenes can either play well with the viewer if they have ?bought? the setup, or can come off as just stupid depending on what movie you were expecting to get. I found the couple?s conversations in the ocean very realistic, and the arc of the story was very believable to imagine in such a situation.
Similarly, The Blair Witch Project managed to really rattle my nerves with the suggestive horror and make all my potential trips to the woods even more intimidating. Open Water doesn?t entirely do that with the ocean, or achieve quite the level of Jaws (B+), but it got me.
And even despite that, Open Water still had me in tight grips the entire way through, something that few movies of its genre accomplish. I was ready for anything to happen just a few moments after they were deserted, which is a factor that I really dug, and the silent suspense really creates this mood splendidly.
The ending can also spark different reactions, as some will find it incredibly eerie, while others may feel indifferently. Being a fan of this type of psychological terror, I loved its floor plan and the route it eventually ventured in the storytelling, but this route is not everyone?s cup of tea. Open Water is more so for the artsy film crowd who appreciate unconventional storytelling, in that the surprises aren?t what ?does? happen throughout, but what ?doesn?t? happen that only goes on your mind.
Lee's Grade: B
Ranked #13 of 120 between Touching the Void (#12) and The Brown Bunny (#14) for 2004 movies.
Ranked #13 of 120 between Touching the Void (#12) and The Brown Bunny (#14) for 2004 movies.
Lee's Overall Grading: 3025 graded movies
| A | 0.4% | |
| B | 30.0% | |
| C | 61.7% | |
| D | 8.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
'Open Water' Articles
- Craig's review B
August 22, 2004 A very worthy addition to the shark movie genre. -- Craig Younkin - Crowd Report: "Open Water"
August 7, 2004 Open Water might be looking at a weekend gross in the vicinity of $800,000, or in other words an average of $17,000+. -- Lee Tistaert
