Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
There’s long been a stigma surrounding the year’s first week openers. However, last year Blumhouse slashed Cinephiles’ preconceived judgments when they delivered the critically-acclaimed smash-hit M3GAN to victory. This year Blumhouse attempts to make lighting strike twice with Night Swim.
Writer-Director Bryce McGuire adapts his Short Film Night Swim (2014) into this Feature that follows a family moving into a suburban house. We’re introduced to former pro-baseballer Ray (Wyatt Russell), whose career ended following his MS diagnosis, Eve (Kerry Condon), who’s working at the local school as an Administrator, and their two children Izzy (Amelie Hoeferle) and Elliot (Gavin Warren). When they notice the house has a pool they see it as a sign since swimming is a form of exercise Ray’s doctor recommended. As the family uses the pool, Ray makes a miraculous recovery and praises it. However, Eve and the kids see the horror that lurks within it.
Night Swim has a powerful opening that makes the viewer anticipate much horror to come. And it does send a chill down the viewer’s spine with cinematic flair. As this is a Supernatural Horror, these thrills come in the form of suspense and jump scares. For instance, there’s a moment when Eve’s doing laps in the pool and the camera becomes her perspective. Each time she comes up for air, through her eyes, we see the ledge of the pool. With each breath taken the suspense builds to the satisfying jump scare. Yet, most of the horror feels like it’s only getting its toes wet when it wants to jump into the deep end headfirst, as the opening did. This is surprising because McGuire has a passion for the genre and an assured vision.
Russell and Condon give it their all. Russell excels as a man grappling with an illness that bury his dreams six feet below. Additionally, he’s effective as a man possessed turning on his family. Condon is a stand-out as a mother struggling to save her children and husband. She’s strong in showing the internal struggle of her character.
McGuire does an able job of adapting his 4 minute short into a feature. Although some may argue most is filler. Night Swim is about a family who discover a haunted pool, but for those who see beyond the concept, you’ll be left with a story about how sometimes one family member will put themselves before the pack.
Universal Pictures Canada release NIGHT SWIM on Friday, January 5, 2024.
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