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From Amazon.co.uk
Shot on digital video with a pair of unknown actors (Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis) who tread water for most of the film's brisk 79-minute running time, Open Water is a fact-based exercise in primal fear that will scare the socks off anyone who dreads death from the deep, but it's familiar stuff if you've ever watched "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel (which is mentioned in writer-director Chris Kentis's economical screenplay). If you can't accept that a trendy young couple could be accidentally abandoned during an open-sea diving excursion (but hey, it really happened!), then you'll surely be hooked by the intense what's-gonna-happen anxiety that escalates when the horrified vacationers realize they've got unwanted company. It's too easy to call Open Water a poor man's Jaws, and the movie's too realistically frightening to be compared to the popcorn thrills of Deep Blue Sea, so what you've got here is a shark movie that creates its own little low-budget niche. Before placing his actors in actual proximity to sharks, Kentis betrays them with some silly, bickering dialogue, but with adequate realism in its favour, Open Water offers a perfect excuse to stay on the beach. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Commentary by Cast, Director and Producer. Interviews with Cast & Crew. Behind the scenes 'making of' documentary On the High Seas: The unexpected journey from small film concept to big cinema success Deleted scenes Shark and diving safety facts
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Wheatgerm
Format:DVD
Having read through some of the (frankly shocking) number of negative reviews, I have to quote this from one of them which says it all really:
"The only thing which kept me watching it until the end was the hope that it would conclude with an action packed shark attack and fight with a load of sharks or something like that."
This type of person is NOT going to enjoy this film. This is not a Hollywood big budget, brainless movie. It's filmmaking, stripped to the bare bones, where empathy and allowing yourself to be drawn in is necessary.
Based loosely on a real story (Google for the true story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan), the events and plight of this poor couple is truly too awful to contemplate. One cannot begin to imagine the fear and desolation of being stranded in the middle of the Ocean with almost zero chance of being discovered. The way the film is shot draws you in, shakes you about and should you allow yourself to be immersed in, almost as if you're out there with them, you will find this one of the most terrifying films you've ever seen. It is also very disturbing.
The acting is strong from two unknowns with the female role being played particularly well. At certain points later in the film, putting yourself in her shoes will haunt you.
My only criticism is that the film is a bit too short - the water sequence is fine but we needed more time to get to know and connect with the characters before they embarked on that fateful boat trip.
If however, you are one of those people (no offence) who relies on a film to create all your stimulation without allowing yourself to use your own imagination and ability to empathise or involve yourself with it, then you will probably not enjoy Open Water.... Read more ›
"The only thing which kept me watching it until the end was the hope that it would conclude with an action packed shark attack and fight with a load of sharks or something like that."
This type of person is NOT going to enjoy this film. This is not a Hollywood big budget, brainless movie. It's filmmaking, stripped to the bare bones, where empathy and allowing yourself to be drawn in is necessary.
Based loosely on a real story (Google for the true story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan), the events and plight of this poor couple is truly too awful to contemplate. One cannot begin to imagine the fear and desolation of being stranded in the middle of the Ocean with almost zero chance of being discovered. The way the film is shot draws you in, shakes you about and should you allow yourself to be immersed in, almost as if you're out there with them, you will find this one of the most terrifying films you've ever seen. It is also very disturbing.
The acting is strong from two unknowns with the female role being played particularly well. At certain points later in the film, putting yourself in her shoes will haunt you.
My only criticism is that the film is a bit too short - the water sequence is fine but we needed more time to get to know and connect with the characters before they embarked on that fateful boat trip.
If however, you are one of those people (no offence) who relies on a film to create all your stimulation without allowing yourself to use your own imagination and ability to empathise or involve yourself with it, then you will probably not enjoy Open Water.... Read more ›
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
The fact that the audience realises how vulnerable the couple are before they do (the sharks gliding beneath the sleeping woman) is perhaps the strongest element of the film.
The budget dictated that there are no big cgi effects and the film's stronger for it. We get glimpses of the prowling sharks; a fin here, thrashing tail there and watch on as the couple try and hold themselves together as the unthinkable becomes the inevitable...
A tight, tense little movie that deserves a viewing but maybe not repeated screenings.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you only like Hollywood blockbusters, please do not watch this one.
4 Aug 2007
Format:DVD
I have just seen this film and read the reviews thinking there would be lots of positive comments.
However, I was baffled by the so many negative comments towards this film; I really don't get what this people expected from this film.
It was simply enthralling.
The most terrifying moment is when the couple realized that they were left adrift in the middle of the sea and probably there was no way back.
IMHO many people are misinterpreting this film; it has nothing to do with sharks, or how to put up a fist fight against them. It's all about survival in the middle of nowhere, in this instance in open sea water, when all hope of a rescue has vanished.
This is certainly nothing like Jaws or any other typical Hollywood production, but a real life tragedy. If the shoe was in the other foot you would understand their plight and feeling of hopelessness.
Given that this movie is based on a true story, and the two main protagonists never lived to tell the tale we will never know about the real circunstances surrounding their terrible ordeal; all we can do is speculate, and that's preciselly what the producers did. Perhaps sharks played no part whatsoever in their termination, then again we will never find out now, will we?
We can only imagine that whichever way they died it was a very horrible, slow and terrifying way to go. Just thinking about it sends a shiver down my spine. This is not just an horror movie, it's terror.
Trust me, this is really a good film.
But if you expect this couple to do a Jaws, then this one is definitelly not for you!
However, I was baffled by the so many negative comments towards this film; I really don't get what this people expected from this film.
It was simply enthralling.
The most terrifying moment is when the couple realized that they were left adrift in the middle of the sea and probably there was no way back.
IMHO many people are misinterpreting this film; it has nothing to do with sharks, or how to put up a fist fight against them. It's all about survival in the middle of nowhere, in this instance in open sea water, when all hope of a rescue has vanished.
This is certainly nothing like Jaws or any other typical Hollywood production, but a real life tragedy. If the shoe was in the other foot you would understand their plight and feeling of hopelessness.
Given that this movie is based on a true story, and the two main protagonists never lived to tell the tale we will never know about the real circunstances surrounding their terrible ordeal; all we can do is speculate, and that's preciselly what the producers did. Perhaps sharks played no part whatsoever in their termination, then again we will never find out now, will we?
We can only imagine that whichever way they died it was a very horrible, slow and terrifying way to go. Just thinking about it sends a shiver down my spine. This is not just an horror movie, it's terror.
Trust me, this is really a good film.
But if you expect this couple to do a Jaws, then this one is definitelly not for you!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was hooked on this film from start to finish. It focuses on two hapless divers who are lost at sea. With sharks threatening them beneath the depths and with the thought of never being found looming above their heads, the duo's fear gets pushed on to the viewer, or at least it did for me.
There are no flashy effects or masses of blood and gore, but pure, raw terror. The two actors were incredible in their performances. It was like they were weren't acting at all, but rather actually terrified. I also liked the bond that they had and was anxious when the two got seperated for a short while.
I am a big lover of action, and I was sceptical of this movie at first, because I thought, two divers stranded at sea, bound to be boring. But I watched it and I enjoyed it. Granted, not everyone's cup o' tea, but it was definitely mine.
There are no flashy effects or masses of blood and gore, but pure, raw terror. The two actors were incredible in their performances. It was like they were weren't acting at all, but rather actually terrified. I also liked the bond that they had and was anxious when the two got seperated for a short while.
I am a big lover of action, and I was sceptical of this movie at first, because I thought, two divers stranded at sea, bound to be boring. But I watched it and I enjoyed it. Granted, not everyone's cup o' tea, but it was definitely mine.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have watched this DVD twice.
The first time, I was literally shaking by the end. This is simple, but utterly breathtaking. Can hardly be recommended too highly.
A second watching reveals the simplicity of the whole, and how it's actually been quite cleverly made within an obviously tiny budget.
On a bang per buck basis, it looks even better.
Well worth the effort.
The first time, I was literally shaking by the end. This is simple, but utterly breathtaking. Can hardly be recommended too highly.
A second watching reveals the simplicity of the whole, and how it's actually been quite cleverly made within an obviously tiny budget.
On a bang per buck basis, it looks even better.
Well worth the effort.
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2.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
OVER-RATED
Well what can I say, I bought this after reading the mixed reviews and thinking it MAY be worth a go - MISTAKE! Read more
Published 2 months ago by The Collected
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lost in the Ocean
Based on a true story makes this even more gripping. Brilliantly acted and told, you can feel the panic experienced by the abandoned holidaymakers.
Published 4 months ago by Sheila Bailey
3.0 out of 5 stars
Feel the fear
This is a really good film, produced on a budget and based on true events about a couple accidentally stranded on the ocean when a diving trip goes wrong. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Al-13
3.0 out of 5 stars
Jaws link...
Did you know that Daniel -one of the main characters- bears the surname 'Kintner'...and that one of the first victims in Jaws is Alex Kintner? On purpose or what?!
Published 4 months ago by Richard di Calatrava
4.0 out of 5 stars
Divers in distress
Can't understand all the negative reviews about this genuinely absorbing film. Either they've got the attention spans of goldfish or were expecting the cavalry to arrive and nuke... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr G
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Budget Masterpiece
The reason so many people dislike this film must be because they are unable to appreciate a film for it's story, it's acting and not for huge explosions, and CGI. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Pablo O'Hana
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent
Having just come back from the maldives it reminded me of my snorkling trip and how much i enjoyed it the film felt you were right in it and in away quite exiting and also shocking... Read more
Published 7 months ago by lyn
4.0 out of 5 stars
A frighteningly realistic situation.
Well I've read quite a few of the 1 star reviews of this film that have been written by the Great Illiterati of the film world who quite obviously never learned to read, write or... Read more
Published 11 months ago
1.0 out of 5 stars
baaaaaaaaad
i watched it ages ago but i thought it was shockingly bad! nothing really happens, it's just boring, i think the best part was that you got to see a pair of boobs if i remember... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. C. J. Davies
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not easy to watch
This film takes your breath. It is not easy to watch. Great acting of the two main actors, who carry this film on their shoulders for more than an hour, mostly in cold waters,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Profr R. Cohenalmagor
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