The Water Man

Name: The Water Man
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy
Released: May 7, 2021
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Adam Dunlap, Alfred Molina, Amiah Miller, David Oyelowo, Ella Rose Parks

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Ratings

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5.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Ratings

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The Water Man

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Movie Details & Credits

RLJE Films | Release Date: May 7, 2021 | PG

Starring: Adam Dunlap, Alfred Molina, Amiah Miller, David Oyelowo, Ella Rose Parks, Holden Goyette, Jessica Oyelowo, John Henry Whitaker, Lonnie Chavis, Maria Bello, Peter James DeLuca, Rosario Dawson, Ted Rooney

Summary: Gunner (Lonnie Chavis) sets out on a quest to save his ill mother (Rosario Dawson) by searching for a mythic figure who possesses the secret to immortality, the Water Man. After enlisting the help of a mysterious local girl, Jo (Amiah Miller), they journey together into the remote Wild Horse forest -- but the deeper they venture, theGunner (Lonnie Chavis) sets out on a quest to save his ill mother (Rosario Dawson) by searching for a mythic figure who possesses the secret to immortality, the Water Man. After enlisting the help of a mysterious local girl, Jo (Amiah Miller), they journey together into the remote Wild Horse forest -- but the deeper they venture, the stranger and more dangerous the forest becomes. Their only hope for rescue is Gunner’s father (David Oyelowo), who will stop at nothing to find them.… Expand

Director: David Oyelowo

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Sheila O'Malley

May 7, 2021

Children absorb everything, good and bad, all the stresses, heartbreak, anxiety of the adults around them. Children can handle the difficult things. Oyelowo knows this and respects it. Read full review

Alonso Duralde

May 7, 2021

Amid the excitement — those bugs, a pack of wild horses, a looming forest fire — the film finds room to explore bigger issues, like living life to the fullest even when death is inevitable, and the fact that the toughest-acting kids are often the most vulnerable. Read full review

Wendy Ide

May 7, 2021

The directorial debut from David Oyelowo is a rewarding, (older) family-friendly adventure which packs some crisply executed moments of nail-biting peril into a moving story which deals with grief, loss and newly forged friendships. Read full review

Adesola Thomas

May 6, 2021

Despite it all, The Water Man’s adventurous premise ultimately redeems it from its tonal confusion and scrappy character work. It’s narratively propelled by the intriguing belief that belief itself is one of the most life-sustaining forces there is. Read full review

Johnny Oleksinski

May 6, 2021

Off-screen, Oyelowo moves the camera elegantly, and he creates a few cool moments in the woods. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

May 6, 2021

The keen affinity the actor David Oyelowo has for his fellow performers is the best thing about The Water Man. Read full review

Carlos Aguilar

May 6, 2021

Heavy-handed acting from the young cast and Needell’s hackneyed dialogue further unmask the movie’s lack of visual wonder and narrative cohesiveness. Read full review

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User Reviews

Stream2BigScree

Sep 16, 2021

I know I'm late on this review, but I found a sleepy Sunday afternoon to finally watch, The Water Man. I know you're thinking what is he even talking about. Well, Netflix puts out a lot of content and I'm still in catch up mode. The Water Man is about a boy who "runs away" from home hellbentI know I'm late on this review, but I found a sleepy Sunday afternoon to finally watch, The Water Man. I know you're thinking what is he even talking about. Well, Netflix puts out a lot of content and I'm still in catch up mode. The Water Man is about a boy who "runs away" from home hellbent on finding the local lore's boogeyman. The boogeyman has the powers to heal and save his ill mother, but no one knows where to find him. Let's see if this quest can hold water.

I'll put it like this, the movie explores the difficulty of a child navigating life and the death of a parent. I mean, talk about a hard concept to grasp for an adult, let alone a child. It's no wonder this kid wanted to run away. Yet, the filmmakers have done pretty well capturing the difficulty of the situation. David Oyelowo, solid actor and as director of this movie, has found a way to depict those emotions on the screen. With that in mind, this movie is quite heartfelt and only amplified by the acting ensemble led by Oyelowo. Oyelowo and Dawson are not the focal points of this movie, but they definitely help the heart of the movie. Think Seven Pounds meets a fantasy quest for the fountain of youth. Led by our young protagonist Gunner Boone, played by Lonnie Chavis, this movie is cute and slightly creepy; and, moreover, the story about the Water Man is really nicely depicted. I'll admit some of the kiddie parts with Chavis and Amiah Miller, as Jo, get a little corny, basic, obvious, and annoying. In fact, they slightly don't fit the more serious portions of the film. It's a strange mix but there are times when they aren't acting like kids and they power through a scene. Either way, a viewer can slog their way through those parts in order to get to the final destination. The ride is quick but still gets you emotionally invested.

By now, y'all must know I do love me a teenie-bop movie and this was no different. The Water Man is a heartfelt, adventure buddy streaming film. David Oyelowo did a really solid job directing and acting in this film that made the film actually feel emotional. This flick didn't get much attention on Netflix but viewers can enjoy this film nevertheless. Grab a bowl of popcorn and make your water to the Water Man's House.… Expand

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DogeGamer2015

Oct 12, 2021

Es una nueva película familiar en Netflix; la trama es decente y las actuaciones son pasables; David Oyelowo tiene mucho potencial como director de cine.

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JLuis_001

Jun 19, 2021

Well-executed directorial debut for David Oyelowo, that nonetheless feels disjointed when it comes to the adventure and the lack of excitement.
It's feels to safe.

There are good intentions yes, and I would say people should watch it, but that does not justify what it fails to do better.

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Mauro_Lanari

Aug 25, 2021

(Mauro Lanari)
Oprah Winfrey produces David Oyelowo's directorial debut, a mix of drama, family, adventure and 90s fantasy. But a Rob Reiner's inspired magic and imagination are not a common commodity.

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