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Open Water

Three decades ago “Jaws” invaded our psyches, tapping into a primal fear so deep, its theme music still evokes goose bumps. "Open Water” addresses this same phobia, but with a twist.

Where “Jaws” had men fighting a great predator from the deck of a fishing boat, in “Open Water” people fight them from within the water itself, making it even more suspenseful by virtue of its intimacy. But, it is not a horror film, and those who rent it with that expectation will be disappointed. This film is not meant to bring blatant chills, but to present two people’s struggle to overcome a dire situation. In this purpose, it succeeds and even exceeds expectations for a small indie film.

The story focuses on a long-term couple, (whether they’re married or not is never established), Susan (Blanchard Ryan) and Daniel (Daniel Travis), who embark on a scuba vacation in the hopes of reconnecting and taking a break from their hectic and all-consuming lives. But, their vacation takes a somber turn when, after an early-morning open-water dive, their scuba tour boat mistakenly leaves them behind in shark-infested waters. The story is made even more disturbing by the fact that it’s based on true events.

When we see these two divers like specks in the vast ocean around them, and we realize, as they realize, what has happened, the jeopardy they’re in leaves us cold. At first, the mistake seems more annoying than frightening. The couple believes the tour will realize its mistake and come back to pick them up. But, as the hours roll by and their hopes of rescue fade, their level of concern mounts —as do their tempers. Looking for someone to blame for their plight, they turn on each other, arguing with the kind of fervor only a long-term relationship can generate.

But, it isn’t until they see a tell-tale fin and watch as a Reef Shark circles them like a cat to a wounded mouse, that they realize the gravity of their situation.

We know that eventually the tour boat staff will realize their mistake. The question is, will it be in time? Part of the appeal of this film is that the audience takes the journey with the two main characters in real time. We experience each new obstacle as they do, and our emotions and despair escalate with theirs, as though we were experiencing the story firsthand.

This sense of realism is heightened by the straightforward manner in which the film is shot. Writer/director Chris Kentis completed the film on a shoestring budget, with a skeleton crew and no special effects. Instead, he relied solely on shark wrangler Stuart Cove and dozens of wild sharks to get the shots he needed. The result is an unpolished, but surprisingly well-orchestrated finished product, which received rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival.

Kent is also kept costs down by using unknown actors. But, that didn’t hurt the film. Ryan and Travis seem shy around each other in the opening scenes, but once they’re in the water, their instincts kick in, and we buy their performances without question. In fact, their inexperience actually makes them seem more like everyday people.

Key to this picture’s power is a universal theme—the struggle for survival. The film places viewers in the water with the couple and forces them to wonder, what would I do in their situation? But, there is also another theme— one of hopelessness. As we watch this couple’s situation escalate, we only wish we had a way to save them.

The DVD special features include deleted scenes, a look at the film’s rise from indie film to Sundance phenomenon, and two fascinating segments on the making of the film—including one section that shows the director diving into a sea of sharks with an underwater camera as trainers throw bloody bait all around him. That’s what you call dedication to the craft.

Written by: Keli Ayr Brooks

Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 3.50
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