Review of Dead Calm (1989) by Ripö M — 25 Jan 2011

Dead Calm exemplifies economy. It spends very little time outside of its menacing setting, allowing its characters to develop within the framework of the threat they become involved in - their actions are what color them, not heavy-handed exposition lumped in at the beginning of the film. Sam Neill demonstrates an incredible tenacity and devotion in attempting to return to his wife, and Nicole Kidman's bravery and stoic determination. Billy Zane may be overdoing it a little, but it doesn't diminish his menace, the threatening sexuality and incredible physical danger that he oozes. Dead Calm is spare, but by no means unexciting or uneventful; every action all three of these characters take changes the game, sometimes imperceptibly and sometimes radically. It's a very delicate balance. On that note, the ending is a little hokey, but I guess studio demands necessitated that last little stinger.

There's also a really exciting dash of ambiguity running throughout the film. What really happened on Billy Zane's previous ship, the ill-fated Orpheus? Eerie videos only hint at the fate that befell his crewmates. Why does Rae make a certain very queasy choice in the middle of the film? These points are scarcely dwelt upon, but given just enough berth from the plot to invite speculation. This is the sort of quality that really rewards attentive viewing. Dead Calm is simple, but by no means straightforward, a thriller of deceptive depth and tight pacing. Give it a shot.