Black Water Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
A terrifying tale of survival in a crocodile inhabited mangrove swamp.
Grace, her boyfriend Adam and younger sister Lee decide to take a river tour whilst holidaying in Northern Australia.
As they drift into a mangrove swamp their boat is suddenly capsized and Jim disappears. Realising they’ve been attacked by a crocodile, Adam drags Grace to the safety of a tree whilst Lee clings on top of the overturned boat. Adam and Grace frantically try to manoeuvre Lee and the boat to the tree but it is firmly stuck.
Stranded in the flooded mangrove swamp, the three holiday makers must work out what to do to survive.
| Ben Oxenbould | Jim |
| Andy Rodoreda | Adam |
| Maeve Dermody | Lee |
| Diana Glenn | Grace |
| Fiona Press | Pat |
| David Nerlich |
6.10 out of 10 (503 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Hard to believe
posted on 10 Apr 2009Don't read any further if you don't want to know anything about what happens in the movie. It is a tense thriller and well made. All along the movie there is a threat of the crocodile which makes it really tense. The location is good and so are the actors. The things why I cannot give the movie a higher grate is because it isn't realistic at all. The crocodile is for real but the things that happen not. If you get caught by a crocodile at your leg you have more then just a big bleeding scratch. But that wasn't the worst. That was when one girl (Lee), two times get caught by the crocodile. Let's just say that she really was just bruised, two broken fingers and a bite-mark from two teeth then you just have to explain to me how she can climb into a tree without screaming from pain. And she is also stupid, when a crocodile goes under water you don't just stand still with a gun in the water just waiting for him the come up sometime anywhere. Only watch this movie for the tension otherwise I would recommend you watch another movie.
Best croc film so far
posted on 03 Mar 2009BLACK WATER is a thriller that manages to completely transcend it's limitations (it's an indie flick) by continually subverting expectations to emerge as an intense experience.In the tradition of all good animal centered thrillers ie Jaws, The Edge, the original Cat People, the directors know that restraint and what isn't shown are the best ways to pack a punch. The performances are real and gripping, the crocdodile is extremely well done, indeed if the Black Water website is to be believed that's because they used real crocs and the swamp location is fabulous.If you are after a B-grade gore fest croc romp forget Black Water but if you want a clever, suspenseful ride that will have you fearing the water and wondering what the hell would I do if i was up that tree then it's a must see.
straight out of croc country
posted on 01 Mar 2009I live up here in croc territory and remember well the true events that inspired this movie. Our guts fall out each time we hear of a croc attack. BLACK WATER is, quite simply, the best croc movie I have ever seen. While I loved ROGUE last year for all its effects and splashy scenes, it was the local scenes that captured our audience. We laughed in ROGUE more than anything. BLACK WATER, however, really resonated with the eeriness and fear that you can experience when you are alone in the mangroves (you guys call them swamps or bayous - but they're mangroves). Every tourist should see this film before heading to the Northern Territory. The ending was a bit of a letdown after the rest of the film, but I'll be adding this one to my DVD collection when it becomes available.
Not like the rest
posted on 19 Feb 2009Like most, I thought 'another crocodile movie'. So far we've had Primeval and Rogue in the last 12 months, what can they do that's new? Where both those films were about action and violence, this one's about fear and tension.The performances aren't Oscar-worthy when there's nothing going on, but in times of distress or terror, these people suffer so much it's like torture. There are holes in the plot and maybe crocs don't really behave like this as others have pointed out, but the fear is so effective it's a stretch to say you'll enjoy this movie. It'll leave you feeling as uncomfortable as The Passion of the Christ.
The film overall
posted on 04 Jan 2009Well if you're looking for a light-hearted comedy with a boring, cheesy script and some classically stupid, dumb-ass one liners, this is the film for you! This film could have been finished in 5 minutes as it was so predictable - people are in a boat in a river where there are "no longer" crocodiles; the boat capsizes, the guide gets eaten by a croc; 3 people are stranded up a tree; the man gets killed; the woman and the girl nearly get killed, the girl kills the croc, the woman's dead, the girls rows home.I must admit the croc was realistic but truthfully I was in stitches for the majority of the film. It's just one of those films you have to criticise all the way through and add your own little plots to it which makes it a whole load more fun.Like I said, if you're after a comedy, this is the film for you!
Wow. Who are the Haters on IMDb?
posted on 15 Dec 2008Firstly I think Black Water is a great film, suspenseful, tense and well directed. I was thoroughly surprised by how much i jumped around. I was lucky enough to see it a preview screening and hope it gets picked up for release.Secondly I agree with willywilly, who are these one star critics who are being so harsh on a film which hasn't been released yet? They must have some sort of film connections to get a copy in their nasty little hands and perhaps they are associated with some other crocodile film?I would urge IMDb readers not to be misled by such hateful campaigning and think it's a shame that IMDb gets used this way. I hope Wolf Creek didn't suffer similar treatment when it was first released.
Keeping your distance.
posted on 27 Nov 2008As a kid I loved the song "Never smile at a crocodile", and if I found myself in this state of affairs, which is actually inspired by true events. Smiling would be the last thing on my mind. From the opening set-up, I've never been so entrenched, caught up and finally exhausted like I was when watching this limited budget Independent Australian horror film, about three people in Northern Territory trapped in a mangrove swamp with a very conniving crocodile waiting in the water below them. What really brought the film alive, was how realistic it managed to be in transporting the fear and uncertainty of the characters' situation to the audience. Semi-documentary camera-work with a disquietingly eerie backdrop and authentic performances effectively take you out of your comfort zone. What we get is a patient survival tale than just a bloody, all-out creature feature onslaught. Think of "Open Water (2003)", where its budget and time restraint made sure it would stay low-key, but this minimal barrier enhanced the experience.The slow-grinding story might be black and white, but it never seemed to become disposable, or succumb to formulaic patterns. Well not largely, and the connection between the characters were emotionally engaging even with a bare, straight-forward script. Although you can say "less is more", with the actions and expressions illuminating the lingering thoughts plaguing their minds. The ordeal is utterly terrifying, because the threat is very alive and never seems to loosen up. This is what drives the film's chaotic adrenaline, and in which it lasts (even when its kept buried) through to the very end. Writers / Directors Andrew Traucki and David Nerlich's economical guidance alienates and smartly strings along the viewer with its taut pacing and harrowing psychological traits. In certain patches the notch goes up, with pressure induced suspense and startling images. The way the night sequence is executed is immensely chilling and pulsating. The menacing crocodile manipulative toys with its fresh-meat in a distressingly suspenseful approach. Sure some moments felt unlikely, but never does it get in the way or distract. Sound FX is the key, and at times the lack of any just eats away at you. Rafeal May's musical score is unassuming and doesn't really enter the mixture much, but when it does it builds an organic sounding quality. The cinematography of John Biggins is beautifully devised, and rapidly aggressive when the mood changes. It was always on the move and claustrophobic, but none of this jerky movements. The editing was sharply handled, and the effects were professionally catered by superbly combing live crocodile footage. Something like this production would also have to rely on its cast to sell to the story in a believable manner and they do it. Diana Glenn, Andy Rodoreda and especially Maeve Dermody are persuasively good. A lot of the responsibility falls on Dermody, and she strongly delivers with an inspired turn. Now this item might cop some comparisons with another killer crocodile film "Rogue (2007)", but the two couldn't be any different in what they want to be and how they end up. If I had to pick though, I'm leaning more towards this outing for its sheer involvement to snap at you.A remarkable effort on all fronts, with everyone involved showing potential to really look out for.
Nail-Biting Tension and Totally Believable
posted on 19 Nov 2008"Black Water" is one of the most tense films I have viewed in a long time. The story moves fast as it follows three tourists (all great actors) into a swamp on a tour with a butch tour guide on a small boat. Soon after dropping anchor in a remote area of the swamp, they are flipped over by something huge in the water.Hastily, the three manage to make it into a tall tree nearby as they realize that a crocodile has attacked them. Throughout the next two days, they have to desperately try to escape from the crocodile's evil watchful eye, and he doesn't seem to want to go away. The movie drags just a tad bit, but what can you expect from the setting and the limited budget? It's so much better than "Primeval" and other recent crocodile/ underwater predator thrillers. The tension is heavy, and all three leads give terrific performances. Truly chilling, this movie struck a deep chord of claustrophobic fear in me. Apparently based on true events.
SPOILER: A terrific effort on a very low budget
posted on 26 Oct 2008The basic plot of this film has already been detailed in several other comments so I won't bother. I'd like to first commend the producer, cast, directors and crew for creating a wonderfully engaging film on a meager, $1M budget, a small fraction of standard Hollywood fare that doesn't LOOK cheap. These people have a drive to make something new and entertaining while not spending a fortune doing it. This is essentially art for art's sake. I know, I know, some of you will decide that this is not art but something less and that's fine. I for one am glad that people like these will continue to put forth the time and effort for our benefit without expecting huge multimillion dollar payoffs.Now to the criticism. I feel that the scenario presented is credible to a point. It's wonderful when everything works out and the hero/heroine saves the day and all's well that ends well. What gets me is the blatant manipulation of events so that blind luck is responsible more than courage and strength.When lee was attacked but not severely injured, somehow she washed up on a mud bank right next to the dead guide. Then, miraculously, his loaded revolver is still in his holster and it actually works (after some cleaning and fiddling). Finally, when Lee is attacked on the mud bank and jumps in the water, once again the croc fails to kill her. She ends up with her hand in his (her?) mouth and manages to repeatedly pull the trigger, ultimately to blow the croc's brains out (literally).I came to the conclusion that having Lee go hand to mouth with the croc was just a way to end the film with the human in triumph. Based upon what I have seen, the croc's attack and continue to hold on until the prey stops struggling. Croc's will spin around and around to dismember and drown the prey. That happened to the first 3 victims but not to Lee. She had teeth marks but they were not deep.I think that the ending would have been better had the croc won, frankly, thereby proving his dominance of the mangrove, his territory for millions of years. But then, how many of us would have been upset or disappointed that the pretty girl didn't get out alive?
Open Water, the Aussie Croc edition!
posted on 26 Oct 2008Perhaps it's about time we declare 2007 to be "The International Year of the Cinematic Crocodile"! The ridiculous "Primeval" came first, about a croc named Gustave (!) ruling the swamps in Burundi. Then there was "Lake Placid 2", a low-profiled and made-for-TV sequel to a forgettable original. Thirdly, there's this incredibly derivative and soporific piece of Aussie horror and, finally, I have yet to see the promising "Rogue". The last one is likely to be the best, considering the involvement of the upcoming Aussie horror talent Greg McLean ("Wolf Creek"). "Black Water" certainly isn't a complete waste of time and film, but it's another pretty pointless survival flick that confuses real-life agony with horror. Pardon my bluntness, especially since I honestly feel sorry for the people who went through this ordeal, but depicting three characters sitting in a tree and whining for more than a full hour is not my idea of sheer suspense! Three young people travel through Northern Australia and decide to spend a day of fishing in the remote swamp areas. It doesn't take too long before a gigantic and ferocious crocodile capsizes their little boat and devours the guide. Grace, Lee and Adam barely manage to escape the reptile's hungry teeth by climbing up a tree. Even though he remains unseen most of the time, the croc patiently lies in waiting and makes it impossible for them to leave the swamp alive. Yes, it does sound an awful lot like the plot of "Open Water" indeed. Replace the numerous unseen sharks with one giant unseen crocodile and the open sea with an equally inescapable Aussie swamp, and there you have it. Oh well, "Black Water" at least features some rare moments of excitement and one impressively designed water monster. It has to be said, the croc looks fabulously groovy and you anxiously count down towards every next time he wildly emerges from the water. The three-headed cast does whatever they can to keep their characters interesting, but how do you achieve this by sitting in a tree the whole time? The based-on-true-events concept obviously causes a number of restrictions, like limited images of the fantastic filming locations, dialogs and amiable character drawings.
Superb dilemma
posted on 20 Oct 2008BLACK WATER has to be one of the best Australian movies I've seen in many years. My girlfriend and I sat gripping each others hands, jumping in all the right spots. This is as much a crocodile film as OPEN WATER was a shark film. In other words, the creatures are merely part of the dilemma, the trap in which people find themselves through circumstances. How director's Andrew Traucki and David Nerlich wring as much suspense and terror from such a modest situation is amazing to watch unfold. And when I say terror, its not overblown, artificially constructed squirm moments, but more little touches that when you ask yourself "how would I feel in that situation" lead you to conclude "scared witless". Performances were great, the pacing and gorgeous cutaways to other life in the mangroves were excellent and the ending moments of the film felt very right. This is a fitting feature debut for two directors who should rightfully by very proud. Go and watch this very beautifully shot and acted suspenseful film.
So Much Better Than Rogue
posted on 18 Oct 2008So well made, no CGI crap. Has anyone else been on the "Jumping Crocs" tour of Darwin's Adelaide River before? Black Water was WAY realistic; Rogue was a bit cringeworthy.Thought the blonde chick was excellent in it - haven't really seen her before. And the other chick is a babe, she is always excellent. V. suspenseful - I would compare it to Jaws over any other man eating animal flick. Got the hole Aussie thing down pat without going OTT with struths and crikeys, as well. Loved it!
Horror as it should be done
posted on 16 Oct 2008When I read the synopsis - 3 people lost in the wild battling against a huge crocodile - I wasn't exactly drawn in. It sounded like the typical yawn-movie horror formula of a bunch of people stalked by a monster - except in this case there are only three of them, so we wouldn't even get the macabre 'joy' of watching them get picked off one by one.However, I watched it (couldn't sleep; nothing else to do) and it turned out to be much better than expected. The acting is great, the atmosphere tense and you really get that rare sense of a low budget winner.Horror as it should be done. First-rate film-making. It's not perfect but it's well worth seeing. I give it a 7.
Am I missing something?
posted on 16 Oct 2008Don't people wrestle these things, even? Is ONE crocodile going to be so lethal that you can't even let your feet touch the water even for a moment? I just can't see that one crocodile could be so menacing. The characters in this film are whimpering, nervous wrecks for the duration, hysterical and cowardly. Why? Just get back in the boat! You see a human ear and you run screaming? Who would do that? In Open Water, which other commenters have referenced, the circumstances were realistic. This film is much closer to Piranha or any number of cheesy sci-fi/horror films that feature an overgrown insect, rodent or reptile terrorizing an island, city, or sewer. 'Attack of the 30-foot Killer Alligator People from the Black Lagoon' is what Open Water was fresh to avoid. This film on the other hand quickly becomes camp; the characters have seeming mental breakdowns and you're more inclined to laugh at them for their dearth of intellectual resources.
An Astonishingly Wonderful Movie
posted on 08 Oct 2008WARNING: I advise anyone who has not seen the film yet to not read this comment.This movie was on the shelf at a movie store and since I had seen a handful of very corny horror flicks there I had really low expectations for this one. Well, I put it in, and almost immediately I was sucked right in. While watching, I got deeper and deeper into the story and pretty soon I was staring in complete interest. This movie is surprisingly spectacular and I loved every second. The story is about a boat ride down a river in Australia. It seems safe enough until their boat is ambushed by a croc who's ready for some food. When I looked at the back of the case I thought that this movie was going to have crappy visual effects like in Lake Placid 2 and a lot of others, but when I first saw the crocodile it looked amazingly real! Don't laugh when I say this, for I am being serious, but this is one of the most creepiest films I've ever seen. It really knew how to build up nail-biting tension and suspense with it's intense situation, I mean, think about it; Your stuck, in a tree, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide with a hungry predator in the depths of the water below. You can not tell me that doesn't freak you out just a little. It even managed to give me a few chills down my arms, like when Adam was taken by the croc and Grace and Lee are left baffled. This is a very appealing movie. There were maybe 1 or 2 parts where I found myself SLIGHTLY uninterested but other than that, I would say this is my favorite animal attack film that I have seen.
Average - Worth a watch
posted on 30 Sep 2008This film had all the makings of being brilliantly scary in a croc horror kind of way. Instead, it was a little scary in places. It did make me jump about 2/3 times, but mostly it keep me waiting for something to happen. I know it was supposed to be a suspense thriller but I was waiting too long at times.At times I could guess what was going to happen next, I guessed it exactly when the croc first came into the film and when it was going to attack, but by this time I was a little bored and started to fidget and make conversation! But it soon picked up and kept me entertained.Like I say, this film was average and it is worth watching, it is scary a little but not hide behind your sofa scary. Just don't watch it if you're after a 'best film ever' kind of film, just watch it if you have some time to spare and you want to be entertained and a little scared at times.
Well worth the time to watch
posted on 12 Sep 2008WOW!! I watched this movie on DVD and, dare I say it, on looking up the cast on IMDb, formed the idea that it was probably going to be a waste of time since I'd never heard of any of them. I couldn't have been more wrong!! For at least 80% of the movie, I was on the edge of my seat! I noticed it is based on a true story although I don't remember ever hearing anything like it on the news here in Australia. How close the screenplay is to that story I have no idea but, even if it is only a fraction close, the younger sister, Lee should have been given some sort of bravery award.If this had been made in Hollywood with big-name actors I reckon it would have been a smash hit. As it is and as I say, I had never heard of it or any of the cast until I was loaned the DVD. I guess it's a case of being in the right place at the right time.I give it 8.7.
croctastic
posted on 12 Sep 2008I found this film rather brilliant. Initially I wanted a "when animals attack" flick along the lines of "frankenfish" or even "rogue" but was delivered a truly horrific ordeal that was not devoid of humanity. Having been to the areas this was made (including the croc farm at the start of the movie, even sharing the same guide!) it added to the fear factor. Those crocs really are everywhere up there, though I don't think they had the "attitude" of this beastie. Yes there were some melodramatic moments but they contributed rather distract from the whole atmosphere. I genuinely cared for the characters and shuddered contemplating "what would I do?" in their boat. Not knowing where your enemy lurked or the sound of the croc chowing down at night was genuinely frightening. I would argue that this flick is one of the best horrors I have seen in years (coming close to the descent). I give it four alligator handbags.
Tense, Realistic and Dramatic
posted on 31 Aug 2008While on vacation on Northern Australia, Gracie (Diana Glenn), her husband Adam (Andy Rodoreda) and her younger sister Lee (Maeve Dermody) decide to take the Blackwater Barry tour in the swamp for fishing. Their guide Jim (Ben Oxenbould) uses a small motor boat and takes the tourist along the river to a remote spot. When they stop, they are attacked by a huge crocodile that capsizes their boat and immediately kills Jim. The three survivors climb a tree and when they realize that help would never come to rescue them, they decide to try to find a way out of their sheltered location. However, in the muddy water, their boat is flipped and the crocodile stalks the trio under the water."Black Water" is a tense, realistic and dramatic low-budget movie and in accordance with the warning in the beginning, based on a true event. The acting of the unknown Diana Glenn, Maeve Dermody and Andy Rodoreda is top-notch, giving credibility to this simple but scary story. There are many similarities between this movie and "Prey", but in different environments. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Medo Profundo" ("Deep Fear")
Great movie that is worth watching
posted on 19 Jul 2009The movie starts out with three people on a play it by ear holiday who decide to first visit a crocodile farm and then go on to a little lighter activity, a "fishing" tour.You pick up some interesting information about crocodiles during their visit to the farm and the information adds just enough to increase the suspense later during the movie as you recall what was told earlier on.The action in the movie is well timed and not over done. Suspense is built through the "what ifs", the "unknown", and the sometimes gut wrenching decisions the characters make in the movie.I found myself wondering what I would do if I was in the same boat, no pun intended.The film quality was really good and the effects where realistic, believable and not over the top or cartoon looking and out of place, the way you sometimes get with CGI.As a horror movie buff I watch just about every horror movie I can get my hands on, in just about every genre, and this is one of the best "crocodile" horror movies, if not the best I have seen.Watch this movie and you will not be disappointed.