Open Water

Name: Open Water
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror
Released: August 6, 2004
Duration: 79 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein

2004

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 97 Ratings

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5.5

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5.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 97 Ratings

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Open Water

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: August 6, 2004 | R

Starring: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein

Summary: Based on true events, Open Water follows an American couple on an island holiday that turns into an ordeal when they are left behind on a scuba expedition.

Director: Chris Kentis

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 79 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Steven Rea

Without doubt one of the scariest, creepiest, gut-churningly unsettling pictures to come along in ages. Read full review

Peter Travers

The ending -- a more devastating surprise than "The Village" could manage -- caps eighty sweat-job minutes of imaginative, jolting suspense. Read full review

Andrea Gronvall

Superlative chiller. Read full review

Joanne Kaufman

Open Water, which was made for $130,000 -- and seemingly without special-effects assistance -- proves you don't have to have a big budget to have an audience on the edge of its seat.

Ty Burr

Open Water is a stunt, one you either buy into or not. Read full review

Dana Stevens

The sharks are scary, and the ocean is vast and indifferent, but the most effective parts of Open Water, which is ultimately too modest to be very memorable, evoke a deeper terror, one that can chill even those viewers who would never dream of putting on a wet suit and jumping off a boat. Read full review

Desson Thomson

These dramatic shortfalls make us merely worried that two human beings are in danger, but not two compelling souls. There's your missing ingredient, the human X-factor. Read full review

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User Reviews

RegOz

Apr 28, 2012

I am very disappointed of people's comments about this movie. Some even compare it with JAWS, which makes no sense, because apart from the fact that both have sharks involved in each story, they are totally different movies. Open Water is a thriller while Jaws is a monster movie -not reallyI am very disappointed of people's comments about this movie. Some even compare it with JAWS, which makes no sense, because apart from the fact that both have sharks involved in each story, they are totally different movies. Open Water is a thriller while Jaws is a monster movie -not really horror as many affirm- which attempts to create fear...and to me it fails. I definitely like Open Water much more than Jaws. Jaws was perhaps the first blockbuster. The idea was appealing and with the aid of a mechanical shark that we only see once, creates a feeling of danger. Nonetheless, the story itself is weak, and silly. The performances are feeble. Nobody cares about the characters for they are fake. I remember when I was a child I liked Jaws but recently I watched again and almost felt asleep. There were movies great movies that also involved animals (i.e The Birds) so Jaws has no excuse. Open Water, on the other side, is pure realism! I am an Australian, thus, I always hear stories about sharks. In fact, I know people who continually dive along the Great Barrier Reef. None of them believe the JAWS is a smart movie while they agree that Open Water shows some of the dangers that they as professional divers face in real life. The smallest mistake can change their lives.

Moreover, Open Water, goes beyond the issue of sharks. The presence of sharks is indeed an important element of the movie but the core of this film is the situation itself. It is therefore, not a shark movie! This film explores the feelings of those involved in the story and smartly takes us to their world. We see when, how, and why such feelings develop. We feel for them, understand them, and wish we had the ways to help them. Furthermore, the sporadic jokes that the characters make to each other when the the situation becomes clear, and when the tangible threat is perceived, are not stupid; on the opposite, it adds realism. Many of us, under very stressful, desperate, hopeless, and/or frightening, circumstances tend to joke about them; it is a way to cheer us up and distract from those negative feelings; same there. I also love the scene when Daniel starts screaming, what a touching moment! Great performance. It was a totally believable: a desperate yell! There was frustration, despair, anger, sorrow, anguish, desolation; all those feelings together in that particular scene. Powerful!

Since the beginning when they are in bed and she is naked, and they are just chatting. It happens to be a very smart scene, for it actually helps to create a feeling of reality and it succeeds; hat is why I don't get why people have issues with that scene. Aren't we naked on a daily basis?. If some didn't understand certain moments or the ending, they may need to watch the movie again and more carefully. If they still don't find the answer,...well, it doesn't mean it is not there, for to many of us the movie is as clear as crystal. Finally, If you haven't watched it, please do it, and take into account what I say, so open your mind to the experience...I don't think you will regret it...and if you do, at least you gave it a go.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

J.F.

Feb 1, 2006

Its understandable that many people did not like this movie. The low-budgetness is distracting at times, and you do come into it expecting a thriller/horror/shark movie... but it's really the immature ones (like you people that say "Very boring!") who will come out of it saying that it Its understandable that many people did not like this movie. The low-budgetness is distracting at times, and you do come into it expecting a thriller/horror/shark movie... but it's really the immature ones (like you people that say "Very boring!") who will come out of it saying that it sucked. You have to be able to appreciate intimate and low-key scenes, which this movie is full of. You have to be able to let yourself go and put yourself in the situation that the characters are in. If you can do that, and forget about the low-budget camera, you'll see what a great movie it actually is.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

RochelleZ

Jun 10, 2007

I think it was very well done.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Robwinz

Aug 7, 2020

A pretty decent low budget movie, which is pretty much based on a true story about this couple getting left in the ocean after leaving a tour boat.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Goretex

Aug 2, 2019

The only decent acting was a 30 second clip of dude throwing a screaming fit of rage. One of the worst movies I've ever seen.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

FabienL.

Nov 28, 2005

Bad home movie combining bad video, bad actor, bad story, bad everything. Quite consistent.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

StanS

Jan 9, 2008

I understand that i probably am missing the point of this movie, but to me it was simply a boring movie. I don't understand am i supposed to be afraid am i supposed to wonder what happens next i don't know all i was thinking of is when will it end.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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