Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I don't see why everyone hates this, February 25, 2005
This movie is not the next "Jaws", and it is not your typical scary shark movie. It's more than that. There is very little gore and no actual violence (that is seen). There are some surprising and startling parts of this movie (when the sharks fins crop up out of the water), but you won't be white-knuckled for most of it. Think of it as more of a drama/suspense, not an action, scary or horror film. It's more about the couples' war between themselves.
It is still very scary, but a different type of scary: tense and psychological. Much of the tension is only in your head. You will ask yourself "where are the sharks?". As Daniel Travis says, "I don't know what's worse: seeing them or not seeing them."
Director Chris Kentis filmed the movie with a digital, hand-held video camera (giving it a "home video" type of feel). Also, this movie was very low budget, so Kentis couldn't afford any Spielberg type of special effects. So what did he do? He took the actors and dumped them into real shark-infested waters! Therefore, you can sense that some of the actors' fears are genuine. These two things make the movie very realistic.
PLOT/SCREENPLAY: The couple, played by the unknown actors Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis, go on vacation. On their vacation, they go scuba diving, and after a miscount, are mistakenly left all alone, in the middle of the ocean. They tread water for most of the movie, talking to themselves and watching for sharks. The couple try to live through jellyfish, bouts of vomiting, and themselves.
I was impressed with the plot. It's a rather simple one, but I felt the script did a lot more with the plot then I had expected. The plot's basis was based on a true event, so that makes it all that more scary. The only problem with the plot is that the end is somewhat anti-climatic.
DIALOUGE: The couple have nothing else to do but talk to eachother. The dialogue shows their moods shift from optimisitic, depressed, angry, in denial, casting blame on one another, tired, hungry, and finally submissive.
Some people say the movie didn't tell us enough about the characters for us to care about them, but I disagree. The dialogue helped to develop the characters and give them depth (make them seem like real people). The dialogue also helped the plot to extend over the course of 79 minutes without wearing thin. It's also very interesting to see that the dialogue shows how their moods change.
ACTING: As aforementioned, some of the actor's fears are genuine (since the sharks were real), so there's no problem believing the actors are scared, but when the actors change (and become angry and depressed) you can really feel what they're feeling. It may be partly due to the "home video" feature (which helps to capture the atmosphere), but the viewer almost feels like you are stranded in the ocean with the actors.
In conclusion, this movie was very well made and I recommend it (especially to "Jaws" fans, even though this movie is not very much like it). I also recommend it to fans of psychologically scary movies. It is not for those that are easily scared; it will make you never want to go into even the swimming pool again.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fine Indie Film...Excellent DVD Package, March 22, 2005
This review refers to "Open Water",Widescreen DVD(Lion's Gate)...
"Open Water" is a very well made independent film, written, directed, and produced by husband and wife team Chris Kentis and Laura Lau. It's made on a small budget and uses unknown actors, Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis, both turning in fine performances, to tell the story. It is not a thriller in terms of an edge of your seat, nail biting, jumping off your seat, or hiding your eyes "Jaws" type of film. Rather it is a low-keyed, but tense look at an everyday couple who get left behind on a SCUBA diving outing.
I saw this film as more of a character study of the couple as they go through an entire range of emotions, while wondering when they will finally be rescued. At first, the calm, thinking only, it was a silly mistake, then anger and fear set in. Dealing with hunger and thirst, fatigue, and the elements of the sea, including injuries from Jellly Fish and visits from some menacing Sharks, they try to endure, waiting for someone, anyone to save them.
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, pass this one by. The film runs almost and hour and a half and for the most part, focuses on the couple and the water, with an occassional glimpse of the normality going on on the Island they left behind. The film almost looks like a home movie, but a really well made home movie. It is one that will make you think though. What would you do if this happened to you? Based on an actual event, writer/directer Kentis puts his own mark on it. If you think this may be your kind of film, you may want to rent it first, as although a fine film, it is probably not one that will stand up to many repeated viewings.
If you have seen it, and know you like it, you will be happy with this DVD. Although I think it's a little on the expensive side for an Indie, you get quite a bit for your money. First of all the transfer is very nice. Excellent picture in widescreen, taking in the vast sea, and the colors are a stand out. Audio options are English,Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 6.1 and DD Stereo. You are totally surrounded by the sound of the ocean, and the haunting Island music sounds great as well. There are subtitles in English and Spanish. Special Features include commentary, The Indie Essentials filmmaker guide to marketing a movie,and On the High Seas: Making Open Water featurette (this was a really good look at what it takes to begin filmmaking).
A good view for aspiring filmmakers, or those wanting to check out a fine film, from a young filmmaker who will surely give us more thought provoking pieces in the future. It is rated R for some nudity and language.
Check it out...Laurie
also recommended:
Film-Fest DVD - Issue 3 - Toronto
Short 6 - Insanity
Love Liza
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than I had heard.., January 28, 2005
OPEN WATER was a good watch. Sorry if you think otherwise, and I know some of you do. It's not packed with special effects, or gore. It is an interesting story that focuses on a couple left behind after a 35 minute diving session in the ocean. When the couple comes to the surface the boat has left. They were a few minutes late and due to a miscount by one of the crew members they were thought to have everyone at departure time. Of course they did not. From this point on they deal with what you might expect drifting in open water. They encounter motion sickness that includes drifting in vomit, foating in each others urine (which wasn't to bad considering how cold they became after a while), jellyfish, other aggressive fish, and yes, ..sharks!! The best way to enjoy this movie is to put yourself in their place, and in the end be glad that you are on your couch watching t.v..
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