Now I thought this had possibilities. It has a real feel to it but in this reality-TV age, that shouldn't be too surprising. The premise is scary enough--being left behind in the open sea--the problem is what to do with that cinematic ally. I remember thinking--before "Jaws" was released--what kind of movie could you make out of a shark attack? I mean--there it is--tragedy strikes--but how do you make a 90-minute movie out of it? Spielberg promptly showed us how. But it wasn't easy. It took a long time and a lot of work, not to mention the director's genius. "Open Water" has far less to offer in every way. But when the movie should be at its most grinding and creative, it falters and ultimately fails. It's fine to use a real story as the basis for the movie but that doesn't mean you grind it out with the same conclusion. God forbid there always be a happy ending but this one left me edgy and unfulfilled. At least there's one benefit--there's no chance of a sequel.
Review of Open Water
