Océan Noir

If this was a high budget A-film it would have sharks 10 meters long, the guy would wrestle one of them with a knife and the woman would show off huge boobs all the time. Instead there are no theatrically exaggerated shark attack scenes, but totally believable, down to earth dialogs and things we would expect to happen in this situation. The ending also unexpected and non-hollywoodical. Worth watching.

This is a genuinely scary film. Basically because it's grounded (if that's the right word) in reality. It could happen. In fact, if we believe the hype that came with the film, it does - all the time.

Young couple on holiday go scuba diving in the middle of the ocean and get abandoned and left behind in shark-infested waters due to a confusion on their tour boat.

I'm really quite surprised by some of the negative comments on the IMDb so far. It's not a great film. But it's perfectly watchable, and the basic idea is absorbing enough to keep you interested to see what's going to happen next. It's certainly unusual - you won't see many films that take place almost entirely in an ocean. The acting isn't great, nor is the script and the director - in fairness - didn't have much scope to impress our eyes.

I felt the film had a very interesting atmosphere, however, and I was impressed by the fact that they resisted the temptation to go for unrealistic high-octane adventure moments, which was one of my main fears in advance of seeing it. The tension that builds does so slowly and naturally, as I think it would in reality, as the mood slowly progresses from shock and anger to fear and desperation.

It's just the right length as well, and the ending is not quite as predictable as you might assume. So don't believe the haters. It's not a life-changer, but it is a perfectly enjoyable movie.

It really doesn't surprise me that some people don't like this film. After all to truly enjoy Open Water one must open their mind and think. In this day and age that hardly ever happens anymore. Most filmmakers just decide to blow things up and hope that it's enough to entertain their audiences. Society in general has become numb what with the plots just laid out in front of us never questioning or asking us to use our imaginations. Open Water is a film that asks its viewers to place themselves at the heart of the movie; to feel the desperation, the hopelessness and the absolute terrifying ordeal. And for a change the movie is shot in a way that allows the viewer to feel as if truly there. Is it Jaws? No and its not meant to be. Maybe that's where the confusion lays. Open Water is a suspenseful film, excellent at that. If you're someone who actually enjoys figuring out the movie for yourself instead of being told in the first five minutes this is the film for you. Score: A.

Open Water might be a bit too low budget for many audience members.

But this is a prime example of how budget should not hold back a brilliant concept.

This is as realistic as it comes, from the scene in the hotel room where the couple lounge around completely nude (like people do in real life!), to the anxiety and horror of being in the Open Water, alone.

This might very well be an underrated masterpiece that has spawned numerous awful sequels.

As I walked out of the theater today, I felt so small and fragile, not to mention I couldn't pronounce a word because I was still very impressed by what I had just seen. This is a film that sets a great example of what movie making should be today. First because it was done without special effects or computers, second because it was very nicely done in terms of lighting, camera, acting and directing and third because it made me feel exactly what the characters were feeling the whole time. I was on my car and still I was left without words. As I drove, I was complaining about how somebody's negligence can have such consequences in other people's lives and reflecting on how arrogant and cocky we get even when we are completely out of our domain, thinking we know better. I am very fund of sharks and I love to see them on film, on TV and as close as an aquarium that has them can let you see them. I just finished reading a book about the USS Indianapolis and believe me there are terrifying stories for you to imagine about survivor's experiences with the sharks, but for the very first time someone made me feel like I was really among them myself and also someone made me feel very scared of them. I was changing positions over and over on my seat during the movie because I was really feeling uneasy and frightened at times. So come and see Open Water and let this movie remind you how fragile life is and how human we are. Live the experience of helplessness, terror and impotence towards what you cant see or solve as if you were really there and your life depended on it. Congratulations to the whole crew.