Product Details

• Actors: Rutger Hauer, Martin Sheen, Max von Sydow, Colm Feore, Rob Campbell
• Directors: David Drury
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• VHS Release Date: July 21, 1998
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0783111037
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,967 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #3 in	Video > Television > HBO > Based on a True Story
  #25 in	Video > Mystery & Suspense > Thrillers
  #29 in	Video > Drama > Television

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
When a U.S. submarine accidentally collides with an armed Soviet sub spying off the coast of America, it sets off a suspenseful chain of events that could lead to all-out nuclear war. Based on true events, this ' 'taut thriller' ' (People) raises the action stakes on a crisis that heated the Cold War at sea up to boiling point.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Take it or leave it, February 8, 2003

By A Customer

This movie wasn't bad, but it was by no means great. I found it quite difficult to follow the storyline, and the special effects were less than convincing (is it just me, or did they use the exact same shot of the Russian submarine, like, 5 times?) Some of the acting, Sheen and Hauer included, seemed forced.
The first 45 minutes of the movie were nearly unbearable, but towards the end, the pace picked up and it became more interesting. I even enjoyed the ending.

(Note: If you are buying this movie for the performance of Dominic Monaghan [as I admit I did], don't waste your money on it. He is hardly shown and has ONE line. Just a heads-up)

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A BORING WHITEWASH; READ THE BOOK INSTEAD, August 11, 2001

By	D. Coben (East Brunswick, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Read the book, but DO NOT BUY THIS TRAVESTY! Worse than a made for TV oversimplification, this HBO film completely distorts and actually REVERSES essential facts of the true, exciting and important story detailed in the book upon which it is based (St. Martin's Press, 1997). Anyone with respect for the history of submarines and submariners should avoid this poor "dramatization." It isn't even a "taut thriller," as People Magazine was quoted as saying. It's just a boring whitewash of the actual events. Besides failing to show that an irresponsible cowboy US Submarine Commander (James Von Suskil of the USS AUGUSTA, the man and the ship both cowardly renamed in this low-budget stinker) recklessly caused the accident, they depicted the Russian Captian receiving a hero's welcome when he returned to the USSR, when in truth he was tragically court-martialed and imprisoned after taking necessary steps to save his crew and the eastern seaboard of the US! Why do people make movies like this, and why do actors like Max Von Sydow and Martin Sheen participate in covering up the misdeeds of a reckless US sub commander and the depraved indifference and cruelty of the Soviet Navy toward its own sailors. The simple truth of the book would have been far more exciting and enlightening. Shame on everyone associated with this little piece of anti-history!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courage Under Water, March 15, 2006

By	Andy Hamers (Redlands, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hostile Waters (DVD)

I can't speak to the historical accuracy of the events depicted but the staging seemed very realistic and plausable. Considering they had to make this film on a "TV Movie" budget, I think they did quite well. Rutger Hauer gives an excellent performance as the Russian submarine captain. If you liked Crimson Tide and Hunt for Red October, then you should add Hostile Waters to your library of under water drama, too.