Open Water

Starring: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis
Directed by: Chris Kentis
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
2004

Times Seen:
Tim: 1


Summary: Two scuba divers on vacation are stranded by their boat and then must fight to survive when sharks begin circling them.

Review:

Tim: It is impressive that a movie this good can be made with such a small budget. It really is Jaws meets The Blair Witch Project. There is something charming about low budget films that don't know they are low budget.

The film is so enjoyable (and so scary) because it could really happen. The low budget quality only adds to the fear factor- it looks not like a Hollywood picture, but almost a home movie. This gives the impression that the movie is real- and then allows us to be really fearful for the stranded couple.

Open Water is a gripping story that we get caught up in so quickly. The best part of the movie is the delicate balance between hope of rescue and fear of a grisly end. We teeter between knowing they will be rescued, and knowing they will die. We never know to which side the scale will tip until the very end.

In some ways, this movie is scarier than Jaws because it is much more realistic. The sharks here aren't some enormous great white that is terrorizing a small community, but regular sharks who are just happy to find dinner swimming in its ocean. This creates an atmosphere that will make you never want to go deep sea diving ever.

Open Water is one of those low budget movies that succeed more than you think they would. This is a chilling movie that will never leave you.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Jaws, The Blair Witch Project, Deep Blue Sea