Two divers left behind by their diving crew, and stranded in the middle of the ocean, are left to fend for themselves as they drift in shark infested waters.
In the years since Jaws, there have been countless imitators and attempts at capturing what worked so well with Jaws. Big scary sharks are run of the mill these days, all the way up to Sharknado, which was probably the beginning of the end of originality in the shark genre. But there was one in the mix that managed to be original and stand out a bit on its own, and that’s Open Water. While it’s not the greatest film to ever be made, nor is it without its flaws and problems, Open Water is different in how it handles a realistic situation in a way that stands as a frightening warning to be more cautious and aware, especially should you decide to go scuba diving. Avoid if you have thalassophobia.
Written and directed by Chris Kentis, based upon a real story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan, two divers who went missing after being left behind by their scuba diving crew, Open Water takes something that could very obviously happen and turns it into a frightening and tense experience on screen. While there’s some scenes that feel unnecessary, particularly a random bit of full frontal nudity that was completely out of place, but once the two characters are in the water, things ramp up. The “found footage” style of filming is also a great decision here, because it often feels like we’re in the water alongside our two helpless and terrified protagonists. It also does a good job of building hopes and then smashing them to pieces like an inhuman monster. Brownie points if you know that completely unrelated quote.
The acting isn’t going to win any Oscars, but it does what it needs to do to draw you in and keep you hooked. Yes, that’s a fishing joke. Hardy har. Blanchard Ryan is the stronger of the pair, but Daniel Travis is also pretty good. The sharks really steal the show, though. I’m sure one of them would’ve loved to have been nominated for an award. The acting is just good enough, but it’s not the greatest thing you’ll ever see. Still better than Sharknado, though, with 100% less Joey Fatone.
By my opinion, however, the best part of Open Water is the choice to avoid using CGI and animatronics and opting for real sharks. The difference is tangible, with the realistic depiction of shark behavior adding a layer of fear and terror to the film that’s lost in dozens of other shark based films. You see how they stalk and swarm, and their size in comparison to the humans. It’s a frightening realism that even Jaws didn’t quite capture, and even though sharks are scientifically proven to not be as scary as they might be depicted in films, I still don’t want to go swimming with them anytime soon.
Open Water is a unique shark movie for a few reasons, and while it may not be the greatest one ever made, it’s still a solid entry. The sequels aren’t wholly awful, either. I think I’ll stay on land. I’m good.