Night Swim (2024) spoiler free review
Everything you fear is under the surface. Night Swim is a 2024 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Bryce McGuire (in his feature directorial debut), produced by James Wan (Atomic Monster) and Jason Blum (Blumhouse), and based on the 2014 short film of the same name by McGuire and Rod Blackhurst. This is the first film from Atomic Monster and Blumhouse to be released following their merger on January 2, 2024. Night Swim was released by Universal Pictures in the United States on January 5, 2024.
Forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness, former baseball player Ray Waller moves into a new house with his wife and two children. He hopes that the backyard swimming pool will be fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for himself. However, a dark secret from the home’s past soon unleashes a malevolent force that drags the family into the depths of inescapable terror.
Film synopsis
The cast includes Wyatt Russell as Ray Waller, Kerry Condon as Eve Waller, Amélie Hoeferle as Izzy Waller, Gavin Warren as Elliot Waller, Nancy Lenehan, Jodi Long, Rahnuma Panthaky, Eddie Martinez, and Elijah J. Roberts.
My opinion
Taking an original and terrifying concept, Night Swim drowns it into another generic horror film. A family moving into a house with a supernatural past has been seen on several occasions in this genre. Some turned out to be effective while others were forgotten. The short film on which this film is based is more terrifying and shocking. Sometimes when it comes to these types of stories, less is more.
The cast, leaded by Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon, is wasted entirely with a generic and predictable script. The jump scares are equally generic and predictable but at least they weren’t overused. Night Swim is the reminder that Blumhouse is not capable yet of creating an effective PG-13 horror film. The rating becomes a barrier that does not allow creating a balance of a good and effective horror film that meets the limitations of the rating.