Open Water

This little Sundance Festival favorite built a reputation as a poverty-row version of Jaws--i.e., another film that will make people terrified of the ocean, but made on a fraction of the budget that Spielberg had at his disposal. The brainchild of writer-director-editor Chris Kentis, Open Water does manage to ratchet up the tension as a yuppie couple on a group scuba dive during a Bermuda vacation is accidentally left behind in the deep by their charter boat, and struggle to survive as they're carried further out to sea and menaced by sharks, among other dangers. But it's rarely as gripping as it aims to be, and for the most part treads water, just like its protagonists. The film opens with a good deal of preparatory material introducing the couple and chronicling the events that lead to their predicament--all of which would make sense if it added some dramatic heft to the characters. But it doesn't: they're as bland and generic when lost in the drink as they were when they were loading their SUV. And even though there are some thrills, as jellyfish and other predators threaten the pair, much of the leads' bickering is flat and perfunctory (although the film does become increasingly effective as it progresses). Still, like The Blair Witch Project before it, Open Water is more sizzle than steak. Optional. [Note: Available in either widescreen or full screen versions, DVD extras include audio commentaries (one by director Chris Kentis and producer Laura Lau, the other by costars Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis), the 16-minute “making-of” featurette “Calm Before the Storm,” seven deleted scenes (including an alternate opening), the five-minute segment “The Indie Essentials: A Filmmaker's Guide to Gearing Up for a Marketable Movie,” two minutes of bonus on-location footage with Kentis, and a trailer. Bottom line: a solid extras package for one of 2004's scariest films.] (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—Oct. 12, 2010—Lionsgate, 175 min., R, $19.99—Making their first appearance on Blu-ray, 2004's Open Water and 2006's Open Water 2: Adrift both sport good transfers with DTS-HD sound. Blu-ray extras for Open Water are nearly identical to the DVD release, including audio commentaries (one by director Chris Kentis and producer Laura Lau, the other by costars Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis), the “making-of” featurette “Calm Before the Storm” (16 min.), seven deleted scenes (10 min.), “The Indie Essentials: A Filmmaker's Guide to Gearing Up for a Marketable Movie” (5 min.), bonus location footage with Kentis (2 min.), and a trailer. Extras for Open Water 2 include a “making-of” featurette (20 min.). Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray debut for an effective contemporary horror double feature.]