DVD Vault: Open Water (2004)

True story almost as entertaining as watching paint dry

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

There are many fascinating tales based on actual events that are worth adapting for the silver screen, and then there's Open Water, a disappointing waste of time that somehow made a hefty profit at worldwide box offices. Mind you, so did Snakes on a Plane!

Seven years after his first feature project, 1997's Grind, director-writer Chris Kentis had only $130,000 to work with, which is very apparent right from the get-go. I could only assume that not a considerable chunk of that budget went towards sound editing, cinematography, or a capable supporting cast.

The monotonous "thriller" recalls the true story of Tom & Eileen Lonergan (Daniel Travis, Blanchard Ryan), a married couple who embarked on a 1998 scuba diving excursion at the Great Barrier Reef only to inadvertently be left behind in the middle of the relentless Pacific ocean.

For nearly the entire 79-minute expose we are left to gaze at the unfortunate pair diving along with the current, and almost nothing else, with the exception of the casual shark spook. Tom eventually succumbs to a shark attack , leaving Eileen to fend for herself until she surrenders to the elements.

We, too, are finally put out of our misery, as Open Water fades to black and the credits (none of which I would care to accept) begin to roll. Save the few bucks it'd cost you to rent this movie from your local Blockbuster, or pick up Jaws instead!

0.5/5 stars