Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with a warning about a flick about some bastard sharks. The thing about the shark is he's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes, like a doll's eyes... When he comes atcha, he doesn't even seem to be livin'... until he bites ya', then those black eyes roll over white and then... ah, then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin'. The ocean turns red and despite all yer poundin' and hollerin' those sharks come in and they rip you to pieces... Sorry, kinda got lost there... What was I saying? Oh yeah, OPEN WATER. The word on this flick is very good. I'm seeing it next week and I can't wait. This reviewer does want you to turn down the hype-meter a bit, but seems to really dig the film! Read on, but be careful... I've seen fingers torn out at the knuckles!
I think we've all had our fair share of crap vacations. Bickering in the car, lost luggage, syphilis from a Thai hooker, all the usuals. We've all been there. But for Susan and Daniel in Open Water, they decide to get all over-achiever on us and go one better. Nothing says peaceful relaxation more than being stuck in the middle of the ocean surrounded by big fucking sharks.
We open with our slightly-unlikeable rich, pretty couple heading off on their holiday, which is to include a diving tour run by Completely Incompetent Tours, Inc (whose slogan should be: "Your Lives Are In Our Hands, Suckers"), who manage to leave while the pair are still underwater, so they surface to find...no-one around.
Well, unless you count Jaws and his mates, with "All You Can Eat" vouchers clutched in their fins.
And that's it. The simplicity that is the movie's greatest strength is also its biggest weakness. For the bulk of the (wisely short) running time, the flick consists of two heads bobbing in the ocean, bitching about things. This is strong in that it does not get sidetracked, but weak in that there is no room for twists, surprises or anything. All you're left wondering is, "Are they going to be rescued, or is it going to be yuppie a la carte for the toothy fish fellas". You only care about the last five minutes, not about the ride to get there.
The budget is extremely low, digital video all the way, and the early "on land" sequences seem horribly amateurish with cameras handheld when they really need to be locked down. Of course, once things shift to the churning waves of the ocean, the wobbly camerawork becomes a blessing in creating a harrowing, documentary-type feel.
The script is surprisingly effective. Daniel and Susan come across extremely realistic for a stressed-out couple. They stick together, not talking to any of the other divers, which ultimately seals their fate when nobody notices their absence. They don’t have sex, but they share laughs and argue when their situation turns ugly. Then they ultimately confess of their love as they cling desperately to one another amidst a sea of bad, bad shit. More than anything, they feel like real people, which is crucial to the effectiveness of the movie. And it is effective...to an extent.
The hype has this feted as being a gruelling exercise in tension. Anyone who thinks that should probably watch more movies. The low budget means no mechanical sharks, no CG, so it’s down to suggestion and the odd crazy shot using real sharks ridiculously close to the actors. As a result, the shocks are minimal and selectively used. It works, but it’s more of an endurance test than a nerve-shredding experience.
Open Water finishes up as an excellent exercise is stretching a tiny budget, but the overall results are satisfactory as opposed to great. An interesting diversion and a solid little film, but no more than that.
--Mr. Stroppy
