I have a friend who is planning a trip to Africa, the most exciting part of which includes an opportunity to swim with sharks. I think the world of this friend and yes I’m sure that it will be quite an experience, but my own personal sense of self-preservation (re: cowardice) leads me to believe he is out of his mind. After all, I’ve watched those all-day shark marathons on the Discovery Channel and I’ve seen “Jaws” more time than I can count (though I left “2”, “3 in 3D” and “The Revenge” high and dry) and am somewhat of a self-proclaimed armchair expert on what those teeth can do. Somehow I doubt, if I were ever caught overboard in shark-infested waters, I’d belucky enough to only meet the ones in “Finding Nemo’s” version of AA. Perhaps I should let him watch the new Independent film “Open Water” before he goes… hmmmm? If had to name some films that convinced me even further that diving in the ocean should be left to direct descendents of Jacques Cousteau, “Open Water” would sit pretty high on the list.

Shot on a modest budget of 130,000 by husband and wife team Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, “Open Water” tells the ‘true story’ of a man and wife who go on a diving expedition while on vacation. What happens to them next is the stuff of nightmares. After a diving excursion, the couple returns to the surface to find the boat, and everyone aboard… gone. They are stuck miles from shore, in ‘open water’ if you will, with no form of rescue in sight.

This reminded me of the one time I actually tried diving. My wife and I were on our honeymoon, and we went on a little excursion of our own. Only we pretty much stuck to inland lakes, where the chances of being eaten by anything other than ‘Nessie’ (if she happened to have relocated South of the border), were extremely small. I was nervous enough in water that was only 40 or so feet deep, I cannot imagine what it would be like in the ocean. And the thought of floating out in the middle of it, with no one around is horrifying.

What I most enjoyed about “Open Water,” came not so much from the terrifying situation the couple finds themselves in, but more so the way they dealt with it. The film preys as much on the psychological horrors one would face as it does the physical ones. As the time wears on, they exhibit the kind of mental breakdown that I feel is realistic as I can only imagine it to be. Here you have an average couple whose relationship has its ups and downs, who together have to face an unnatural situation. There is disbelief followed by the certainty of a rescue. As time wears on, the glimmer of hope fades and any walls that normally hold back emotions are torn down. Fear turns to fighting, which turns to blaming, which turns to support as rescue seems less and less an option.

In watching some of the extra features available on the new DVD release, I was shocked to find out how much time the actors spent in the water in order to shoot this 79 minute film. Even more so to learn they spent much of that time in real shark-infested waters. Of course this was just a little piece of what I heard while listening to the film’s two commentaries. The first one is by Kentis and Lau, who talk in great detail about the making of the film. This is followed by commentary by actors Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis, who enlighten listeners with anecdotes about their real-life shark experiences while filming.

Some of the additional extras include a ‘Behind the Scenes” featurette, complete with interviews with the cast and crew, and some interesting bonus footage of Kentis as he films in these (again I say) shark-infested waters. You’ll also find some deleted scenes, and perhaps the most interesting featurette which teaches a little gonzo lesson how to market your independent film.

It is questionable whether or not “Open Water” is actually based on a true story, loosely or otherwise, but even if the story as presented is not an accurate account of a particular instance, you can bet that there have been at least a few people in the past who have experienced a similar unfortunate turn of events. As to their fate, it is known only to them and those who dwell below. I, for one, never (EVER) plan to become a part of that statistic. The idea alone is a terrifying one and watching it play out in this film only makes the terror more real.

Directed by: Chris Kentis
Starring: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis
Extras: Commentary by Director Chris Kentis and Producer Laura Lau, Commentary by Actors Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis, “The Indie Essentials” Filmmaker Guide to Marketing a Movie, “One the High Seas: Making Open Water”, Deleted Scenes, Bonus On Location Footage with Chris Kentis
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, 6.1 DTS
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: 12/28/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R (Language and Some Nudity)
Website

We'll give Open Water an A.