Review of Dead Calm (1989) by Tony P — 20 Jul 2018

Entertaining Australian thriller from the filmmakers behind the Mad Max films.

It follows a couple, played by Sam Neill (John Ingram) and Nicole Kidman (Rae Ingram) who are sailing seemingly alone around the wide open seas of the Pacific off Australia on their yacht. Neill plays an experienced sailor with Her Majesty's Australian Navy.

All of a sudden the peace or dead calm is interrupted as the yacht stumbles on a seemingly sinking ship on the horizon.

A figure appears from the ship in the form of someone using a dinghy to row to the yacht. The figure is played by Billy Zane (Hughie Warriner) who some may remember from roles including Titanic.

The Zane character is a mysterious one. His story just does not have much credence and so old Sam rows over to the ship to investigate for himself leaving Zane alone with Nicole (Rae in the film).

Big mistake. Zane breaks out of his cabin and physically attacks Rae at the controls of the yacht to take control himself!

Sam Neil is left alone on a seemingly sinking ship taking in water with a dodgy engine.

What follows is 90 minutes or so of terror as Zane and Rae play a game of cat and mouse to control the yacht whilst Sam Neil struggles at an ever increasing distance away on the ship.

The film marks one of the first of Kidman before her foray with Tom Cruise!

The sailing scenes were actually shot on The Great Barrier Reef I learned during the end credits.

I grew increasingly frustrated at some of Rae's incompetence. A primary example being in taking so long to make use of a gun on board and then inadvertently shooting her pet dog dead with a shark gun/arrow. Poor dog!

The story moves along at a good pace. Just the right run time.

A film that is not reward potential of course but an entertaining little thriller all the same.

A good introduction to the talent of Nicole Kidman with the experience of Sam Neill and evil of Zane.

Australia knows how to make entertaining cinema.