MOVIE - OPEN WATER - Review Rating $$$$$ $$1/2 (OUT OF 10)

STARRING - Blanchard Ryan (Susan), Daniel Travis (Daniel), Saul Stein (Seth), Estelle Lau (Estelle), Michael E. Williamson (Davis), John Charles (Junior) & Christina Zenaro (Linda).

DIRECTOR/WRITER - Chirs Kentis

Based on true events.

Open Water reminded me of the ghost stories told around crackling fires on late summer eves when you were a child. As the story progresses you get caught up in the tale without realizing it. The shadows cast by the flickering flames take on ominous dimensions and you your skin tingles as the tension rises and you begin to believe in things that go bump in the night.

As with all good ghost stories the tale contains sufficient attention to detail (i.e. a pointless arguement about who's to blame) to give added credence to the unfolding drama and acts as an ominous warning about potential dangerous real world behavior (the true underlying purpose of such tales).

The only problem with Open Water is that, like campfire ghost stories, the degree it gets under your skin is highly dependent upon the atmosphere in which it is told. In the wilderness, a well-timed Owl's hoot or branches creaking in the wind can ratchet up the tension. Unfortunately, I watched the film with an audience that had several talkers and another group who laughed for 2 minutes at a brief scene of female nudity. Who you watch this movie with may effect your enjoyment of it.

Open Water will rattle your nerves.

(FYI - the sharks are real)

Running time - 79 mins

Alternative Reviews:

Roger Ebert's Review

Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review

Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

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