Open Water (2003)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Chris Kentis

Writer:

Chris Kentis (written by)

Release Date:

20 August 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Drifting into theaters this summer.

Plot:

Based on the true story of two scuba divers accidentally stranded in shark infested waters after their tour boat has left.

Plot Keywords:

Boat | Shark | Ocean | Scuba Diving | Diving

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 24

8:00 AM

FX

Cast

Blanchard Ryan	...	Susan
Daniel Travis	...	Daniel
Saul Stein	...	Seth
Michael E. Williamson	...	Davis (as Michael Williamson)
Cristina Zenarro	...	Linda (as Cristina Zenaro)
John Charles	...	Junior (as Jon Charles)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Estelle Lau	...	Estelle (uncredited)
Steve Lemme	...	Scuba Diver (uncredited)

Directed by
Chris Kentis

Writing credits
Chris Kentis		(written by)

Produced by
Estelle Lau	....	associate producer
Laura Lau	....	producer
Gary Lorenzo	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Chris Kentis		(shot by)
Laura Lau		(shot by)

Film Editing by
Chris Kentis

Sound Department
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Marc Fishman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tony Lamberti	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jon Mete	....	sound effects editor
Glenn T. Morgan	....	supervising sound editor
Todd Orr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Ozanich	....	sound designer
Ben Wilkins	....	sound editor
David Barbee	....	sound editor (uncredited)
John Bires	....	audio engineer (uncredited)
Matt Colleran	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Victor Ray Ennis	....	first assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	digital assistant (uncredited)
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Jeff Glueck	....	audio engineer (uncredited)
Kenneth L. Johnson	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Stefanie Melchor	....	additional sound (uncredited)
James Moriana	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Lucy Sustar	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist (uncredited)
David Young	....	audio engineer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Haven Cousins	....	compositor

Editorial Department
Haven Cousins	....	lead colorist
Thomas Edmon	....	digital intermediate supervisor (as Tom Edmon)
Jim Finn	....	negative cutter
Matt Woo	....	digital intermediate technician
Richard Haylock	....	on-line editor (uncredited)
Corey Lincoln	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Nathan Barr	....	composer: additional music
Mark Curry	....	score mixer
Joel C. High	....	music executive
Ashley Revell	....	music editor

Other crew
Stuart Cove	....	shark wrangler
Robert Luttrell	....	digital film timer
Pascual Romero	....	publicity and promotions
David E. Russo	....	programmer

Thanks
Oreet Rees	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Plunge Pictures LLC

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• CDI Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Movie-Eye Entertainment (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Redbus Film Distribution (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (2004) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Viva Films (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• Pony Canyon (2005) (Japan) (DVD)
• Star Entertainment (2005) (India) (all media)
• Tien (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Mi Casa Multimedia  DVD audio mastering 5.1& 6.1
• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  legal services
• GMI  financing
• Heavy Light Digital  digital intermediate and film transfer
• Immediate Music  additional music provided by
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity
• Numerical Sound  additional music provided by
• Soundelux  sound post-production
• TVT Soundtrax  soundtrack published by
• Todd-AO Soundelux  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some nudity.

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:10 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:11 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bahamas

Company:

Plunge Pictures LLC

Trivia:

Chris Kentis wrote the original draft of the screenplay in under six days.

Goofs:

Continuity: All four of Susan's hose protectors, where the hoses attach to the first stage, start off being yellow. Towards the end of the film two are either missing or change color.

Quotes:

Susan: [seeing a shark swimming right in front of them] What kind sharks are those?
Daniel: Big ones.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: Bounty Hunters! (#2.9)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Yendisare Aimando

Excellent and terrifying movie

I found this film terrifying to watch. I've been in a similar situation, except for the sharks. You can't imagine the feeling of being alone in the ocean, far from land, not knowing if you'll make it back to shore. I had drifted out a ways trying to reach a floating log in the Pacific. My friends were hung over and passed out on the beach. It was early morning. I finally reached the log not realizing the tide was going out and I was being pulled further out to sea. Once I discovered what was happening I jumped back in and started for shore, quite a ways to go. It took calming down, floating a lot, and continued paddling to get ashore. When I finally touched bottom, I crawled up to the beach and collapsed. With the tension, fear of drowning and exertion of strokes, it totally exhausted me. Also wondering what was underneath the surface, not seeing it.

I thought this film brought that terror out. It was filmed as though you were right next to the couple. The use of the water level being right where your eyes would be, made it so real. I wondered where the camera was and how did they get that level of eyesight? Chris Kentis wrote and directed this with a keen eye and a good sense of tension mounting. He also brought out excellent performances from two newcomers, Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis. I thought the were very convincing in their performances. I found at times that I was no longer watching a movie - that they were really in the danger that existed. I also think it was possibly beyond the call of duty to put the actors through the paces of being in the water so long. Not your usual demands of actors, unless it were a fish tank and fake waves. But this was real and they were in the middle of the ocean.

Hats off to all three involved - Kentis, Ryan and Travis. Chris Kentis also did the camera work as well as editing the film. Good work, Chris. You got me with this.