Open Water

This indie low budget thriller sees a couple on a well-deserved holiday get left behind on a diving trip. Alone in the water for hours surviving by keeping each other going they slowly become more and more vulnerable to the isolated surroundings until nightfall when they become bait!

Based on a true story this very low budget film shot on digital has an eerie honesty about it as you are with these characters in the water for 90% of the movie. It’s a strange connection forged by the viewer and the screen but you really feel for the couple throughout.

Word of mouth on this film will be split as it was with The Blair Witch Project, and similarities between the two will be made – Created from folklore storytelling and left for the individual to decide. But believe me if you have a fear of open spaces or you can’t swim let alone if you hate sharks this will terrify you!

The production was independently financed and the actors are all unknown and with about as much experience behind the camera this left the project in a great position. It was raw, unnervy and just what you needed to get the realism across for the believability of the story.

The script is tight and natural and portrayed with truth as the two main leads work off of each other very well. Lighting, sound and design are pretty much vacant as the minimal feel of a documentary again heightens the tension for the audience.

The film is short (80 minutes or so) but the lack of screen action makes it feel very long which detracts you from loving it – I am not sure if it was intentional or a budget issue but mid-way through you do urge it to get going!

It is a movie that stays with you and will trigger many a debate questioning the ifs and buts of the morals but you can’t help respecting the filmmakers getting their project on screen and with the right campaign and audience will be found.

The question of whether it will be discussed isn’t the issue, it is whether this type of film can work again after so many people were burnt by The Blair Witch Project phenomenon.

Go and see - you have to !

3/5

Jaws meets Bowling for Columbine (er...maybe not).