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Amazon.co.uk Review
There are several occasions when this rousing Australian thriller from 1987 should have ended with a well-placed shot from a speargun or a stronger knot of rope, but you don't think about these small details when you're being scared out of your wits. In a role that catapulted her to international stardom, Nicole Kidman plays a young wife who has joined her husband (Sam Neill) on a yachting trip to recover from the tragic death of their son. Far out to sea, they encounter a sinking ship with one survivor (Billy Zane, 10 years before Titanic) but inviting him aboard turns out to be a very bad mistake. While Neill attempts to salvage the sinking boat, Kidman is fighting for her life against the psychotic Zane--a villain so creepy that you eagerly look forward to his demise. By the time that moment arrives director Phillip Noyce has resorted to a typical slasher-movie climax (proving that no boat should be without a flare gun) but until then Dead Calm is a nail-biting thriller that's guaranteed to keep you in a state of nail-biting suspense. --Jeff Shannon
Special Features
2.35 Wide Screen
French\Italian
English\Italian
English
Region 2
Dolby Surround English French Italian
Dolby Surround
Interactive Menus
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Arabic\Bulgarian\Dutch\English\French\German\Italian\Portuguese\Romanian\Spanish
French\Italian
English\Italian
English
Region 2
Dolby Surround English French Italian
Dolby Surround
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Arabic\Bulgarian\Dutch\English\French\German\Italian\Portuguese\Romanian\Spanish
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a truly intense thriller packed with so many twists and turns that it's totally compelling from beginning to end. Staring Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman, the plot revolves around a couple who spend some time sailing in the Pacific to help them get past the death of their son. They soon come across a sinking boat and pick up a stranger who turns out to be a homicidal maniac, played excellently by Billy Zane. The situation rapidly becomes impossible for the couple as they must rise to the challenge. The atmosphere in Dead Calm is very haunting and incredibly restrained. The setting is perfect for a movie of this genre. The ocean is seemingly endless and completely empty. Dead Calm is one of those movies you don't forget. The suspense and tension make this film a powerful and outstanding entertainment. Definitely a must see.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The suspense of this movie is incredible. Zane is excellent in the movie as the nutcase castaway. Nicole is young and attractive and right for the role. All actors are believable. A simple film that only involves 3 people that most reviewers here have raved about..must be good. This film keeps you on the edge of your seat. The sex scene where Zane attempts to sleep with Kidman and succeeds may be disturbing to women. Kidman stupidly leads him into thinking there is an attraction between them so ends up having sex with him. The scene is hot and intense as she at last minute tries to get away but fails. Thrillers rarely get any better than this. To sum it up in short. Pyscho meets a couple at sea. Pyscho does what he wants as they do. The director knew how to keep the viewer interested and I wonder if he does a good job as this in other films he has done. All actors were picked well for this film and do a good job. The actors are just as important as the director. They mixed extremely well together here. The movie is a classic and should be bought if you like your thrillers exciting and not boring.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
'Dead Calm is a film that had me taut with excitement from start to finish. The tension and frustration really built up throughout the film right up to the climax. The feeling of isolation experienced by the charaters is well exploited with some excellent cinematography. I found the performances by the three stars to be both convincing and entertaining especially the 'bad guy' played by Billy Zane who is suitably sinister and quite frightening.
The story is a simple (on the surface) tale of a young couple who go away to spend some quality time together on a sailing trip. One day they meet a sinking ship and rescue a single survivor. However, after investigation things seem to take a turn for the worse and the couple begin to understand the kind of man they took on board. While all the acting is good it is really the director's (Philip Noyce) masterful manipulation of the tension that will have you on the verge of a heart attack towards the finish.
Overall this film gets a solid 4 stars due to a lack of explanation and insight into some key points that I felt needed to be explored in more detail. I would recommend watching this film but, unless it takes your fancy, it isn't worth buying.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The dog gets it
Watched this last night - loved it at the time. It's all rather laughable now. The plot is ludicrous. Read more
Published 28 days ago by S Khan
Classic Movie.
Good classic movie, enjoyable to watch despite its age.
Billy Zane's plays a great part and i would recommend watching to anyone.
Billy Zane's plays a great part and i would recommend watching to anyone.
Published 1 month ago by Emzzzz
Stay calm and you may yet not end up dead.
Dead Calm is directed by Phillip Noyce and adapted to screenplay by Terry Hayes from the novel of the same name written by Charles Williams. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Spike Owen
elder filmbuff
Another film that I was prepared to go the extra mile and buy a Blu-ray version. A dramatic well acted film produced well. Well worth a second or even first look at.
Published 4 months ago by eldermoviebuff
Suspense builds well
Having enjoyed some of Phillip Noyce's other thrillers and being a fan of both Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill, I decided it was high time I actually watched Dead Calm all the way... Read more
Published 5 months ago by BPR
Tense thriller
I think it important to point people toward Polanksi's Knife in the water. There are way too many similarities between these two films to ignore. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Tetrominoe L (PSN hoopla10, Steam: colt_ture)
Surprisingly good
I only bought this DVD because it was so cheap and had some decent ratings on various sites. With the price and the age of the thing it is not surprising to see no extras so no... Read more
Published on 22 April 2009 by Dan Taylor
Oldie but Goodie
I think this film is a very good watch. Its one of those film that keep you glued to your sit and shouting at the Tv, why did they let that man on there boat. Read more
Published on 8 April 2009 by Kelly
A proper film
In an age of over-budgeted films, this stands out as being a classic for it's non-nonsense approach that engages you into the endless miles of open water, and the exciting, though... Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2008 by Tom Cat
surprised in a good way
when i saw the plot for this film i was a bit unsure, plus the eighties vibe i thought it would give off was too much for me, lol but i have to say i thoroughly enjoyed it. Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2007 by Ms. F. I. Macdonald
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