Review of Open Water 2: Adrift (2006) by Jarret S — 19 Jun 2007

Adrift is a nice little horror-thriller. The excruciatingly simple premise whet my appetite the minute I heard about it, and the "so near but so far" situation of peril really floats my boat.

A group of people set out on a yacht trip from Malta to celebrate their reunion (they are apparently high school friends - although this is almost completely irrelevant) and one of their number's birthday. Alas, disaster strikes several hours into the trip and puts a real dampener on their fun.

Director Hans Horn really only has 30 minutes at most, to flesh these characters out before the tide turns on the plot. Therefore, he can be forgiven for relying pretty heavily on stereotypes: The bimbo, the rich stud, the will-they-won't-they couple, the settled couple, the person with medical knowledge, and the weak "victim" type who miraculously overcomes their previously crippling fear in the face of adversity.

These people are just about your standard shorthand horror genre "good guy" personalities, and you find yourself only just about rooting for their sopping wet survival.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that much of the fear induced by this film comes from the viewer himself. It isn't so much that we worry for the people on screen (hell, if you're sadistic enough you have a list of who you want to go and by what means - and you'd be surprised by how many different ways other than drowning these guys can find to keel over), the real fear for the viewer comes from the transposing of oneself into that type of situation. Which character would you be acting most like, and what are their chances of survival? This is a staple of most horror, granted, but here it is a little different: it is purely up to the individual and their physical and mental strength. Unlike the sister film Open Water, these individuals are only up against the sea itself; there are no other factors here, no sharks, no bogeymen. Imagine having to tread water for twenty minutes, an hour, two, two days, think about that... could you do it? That is why this film grips you.

So, we can forgive the two-dimensional protagonists. For the reason stated above and because, for a film based solely in the water, you'd be pissed if the cast weren't submerged pretty darn quickly. So, we'll let it slide.

The simple premise of this film that enamoured me so, was thus: A group of thirty-something dim-wits party on a luxury boat, then jump into the sea to cool off - only not one of them remembered to let the ladder down. They are stuck in the middle of the ocean, right next to the yacht and its slippery, steep sides, with no feasible way of getting back on board. Add to this the fact that the happily married couple of the group have left their baby in one of the cabins, peacefully asleep but soon to awake!

A common irritation of horror, is when the characters take longer than the audience to think of a method of escape. Case in point: Before leaping into the sea for a spot of scuba fun, one of the rippling, lithe men is given a knife for no apparent reason. It looks great strapped to that toned, tanned thigh and all - but why does it take hours in the water for the chump to think of using the thing to help them get back on board? Annoying.

These are only minor gripes mind you, as the tension is successfully built up throughout the film, and despite a somewhat cliched resolution, the viewer is kept guessing right up until the end as to who will survive and who will become fish food. To keep me riveted, hand over mouth, watching six people tread water and talk for over an hour is some feat, so I have to recommend this film. Just don't forget your water wings.