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IMDbPro

The Water Man

  • 2020
  • PG
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
Rosario Dawson, David Oyelowo, Amiah Miller, and Lonnie Chavis in The Water Man (2020)
Gunner (Chavis) sets out on a quest to save his ill mother (Dawson) by searching for a mythic figure who possesses the secret to immortality, the Water Man. After enlisting the help of a mysterious local girl, Jo (Miller), they journey together into the remote Wild Horse forest -- but the deeper they venture, the stranger and more dangerous the forest becomes. Their only hope for rescue is Gunner's father (Oyelowo), who will stop at nothing to find them and in the process will discover who his son really is.
Play trailer2:15
2 Videos
19 Photos
AdventureDramaFamilyFantasy

A boy sets out on a quest to save his ill mother by searching for a mythic figure said to have magical healing powers.A boy sets out on a quest to save his ill mother by searching for a mythic figure said to have magical healing powers.A boy sets out on a quest to save his ill mother by searching for a mythic figure said to have magical healing powers.

  • Director
    • David Oyelowo
  • Writer
    • Emma Needell
  • Stars
    • David Oyelowo
    • Amiah Miller
    • Lonnie Chavis
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    4.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Oyelowo
    • Writer
      • Emma Needell
    • Stars
      • David Oyelowo
      • Amiah Miller
      • Lonnie Chavis
    • 83User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:15
    Official Trailer
    The Water Man
    Trailer 2:15
    The Water Man
    The Water Man
    Trailer 2:15
    The Water Man

    Photos18

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    Top cast27

    Edit
    David Oyelowo
    David Oyelowo
    • Amos Boone
    Amiah Miller
    Amiah Miller
    • Jo Riley
    Lonnie Chavis
    Lonnie Chavis
    • Gunner Boone
    Rosario Dawson
    Rosario Dawson
    • Mary Boone
    Maria Bello
    Maria Bello
    • Sheriff Goodwin
    Alfred Molina
    Alfred Molina
    • Jim Bussey
    Aaron Trainor
    • George Riley
    Ted Rooney
    Ted Rooney
    • Edward Schaal
    Jessica Oyelowo
    Jessica Oyelowo
    • Missus Bakemeyer
    John Henry Whitaker
    John Henry Whitaker
    • Chuck
    Jennifer Lanier
    Jennifer Lanier
    • Hospice Nurse
    Colby Dahlstrom
    • Preacher
    Adam Dunlap
    Adam Dunlap
    • Officer Jake Williams
    Josh Trerise
    • Boy #1
    Jack Lanning
    • Boy #2
    Brianne Huggins
    • Sarah Schaal
    Isaac Cushman
    Isaac Cushman
    • Cemetery Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    Peter James DeLuca
    Peter James DeLuca
    • Drowned Man
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • David Oyelowo
    • Writer
      • Emma Needell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews83

    5.64.8K
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    Featured reviews

    6joiningjt

    It just shows how NEGATIVE this country has become!! This is a beautiful film!!!

    Let's start with the acting, absolutely fantastic very likeable characters especially the 2 young leads. The story was predictable but that's Underrated if its predictable and has a happy outcome sometimes that's what we need. Sometimes I love a simple story done beautifully and shot in a beautiful setting. It's so sad that people have become so NEGATIVE that they give a beautiful film like this a 1. Sad!! If you have a family and want to watch a beautiful film its EXTREMELY family friendly. My wife and I saw this together just now and we both have great big smiles...
    6Booboboo

    Simple, straightforward kids movie

    This is basically a Disney-like story with a dying parent, an innocent child on a quest, and a strong morale towards the end. People here are harsh in their reviews, but it's a nice sunday night movie for 8 year olds. My kids weren't too bothered by the slight plot holes, but liked the adventure, the idea of the water man and what he turns out to be.
    6rphanley

    Ignore the negative reviews.

    This was a good movie with a good message. It's geared for a younger/family audience but that's not a bad thing. The movie has a point at the end of it and that's better than most movies these days. Worth watching in my opinion.
    6SnoopyStyle

    David Oyelowo tries directing

    In the small town of Pine Mills, Oregon, there is a local legend about a mysterious figure called The Water Man. Gunner Boone is obsessed with death and draws his comic book. His father Amos (David Oyelowo) is often absent and is struggling to reconnect with Gunner. His mom Mary (Rosario Dawson) is sick and his parents are trying to keep it from him. Jim Bussey (Alfred Molina) tells him about The Water Man who may have discovered immortality. He goes searching with help from blue-haired girl Jo who tells stories to little kids for money.

    This is David Oyelowo trying his hand at directing. It's fine. It's not anything special but I'm not going to trash it either. It reminds me of Forest Whitaker who also dabbles in directing. There is always the possibility of improvement and I look forward to it. I find this film a little flat. The action scenes need some more kinetic energy. The climax is a little bit anti-climatic. The story is relatively straight forward with the gentlest of twists and turns. All in all, this is professional work for Oyelowo's first effort.
    6isaacochoterena

    Well balanced

    In this film the story develops a reflection on how we see death and what we think when we know that someone important to us is going to die.

    With a pretty good script, it manages to tell us the story in a subtle way, with an unexpected outcome, it manages to expose the message of taking advantage of the time we have to be with the people we love. It has good acting, good visuals, good photography, and good character development. Although the way the story is told may seem a bit slow, it works to understand what each of the characters feel without falling into cheap sentimentality.

    With some situations that happen at the precise moment, the film has a good balance between comedy, drama and fantasy, this film is worth seeing.

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    Related interests

    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First feature film to be directed by David Oyelowo.
    • Quotes

      Jo Riley: [singing] One two... three four... close your eyes/windows lock your doors/ Cause you'll never know for sure/Who it is/that he's looking for

    • Crazy credits
      The vignettes of Gunner's graphic novel are shown during the end credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Rosario Dawson/Dr. Anthony Fauci/Anitta (2021)

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Water Man?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 7, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El hombre del agua
    • Filming locations
      • Oregon, USA(Film credits)
    • Production companies
      • Harpo Films
      • ShivHans Pictures
      • Yoruba Saxon Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $383,234
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $181,046
      • May 9, 2021
    • Gross worldwide
      • $383,234
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 31m(91 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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