Surely this wasn’t made this decade. I feel transported back to the 2000s watching “Night Swim,” which could have been subtitled: Amityville with a Pool. Dive into the murky waters of a cinematic flop that leaves audiences floating in a sea of mediocrity. The film, adapted from a short with the same name, stars the dynamic duo of Kerry Condon and Wyatt Russell, who, despite their commendable efforts, seem to swim against the current of a soggy script. Condon, relegated to the role of the archetypal concerned mother and Russell, channeling a mopey demeanor, attempt to steer this sinking ship but are let down by a narrative that’s more puddle than deep end​​.

In this aquatic horror, we follow a family whose backyard pool harbors more than just chlorine and floaties. Initially a symbol of healing and family fun, the pool soon reveals its darker tendencies. Yet, the film’s descent into the depths of horror is thwarted by its own transparency, floating rather aimlessly between the shallow ends of derivative scares​​. Frankly, I can’t think of a single moment of horror that got close to getting me in this one.

Director Bryce McGuire, alongside co-writer Rod Blackhurst, tries to navigate these waters with a mix of distorted underwater perspectives and tried-and-tested jump scares. But as the story unfolds, the terror seems to drain away, leaving us more bemused than scared. The villain’s big reveal—meant to send ripples of fear—instead prompts unintended chuckles, particularly as the narrative wades through clichés and predictable twists​​.

The film lacks the immersive fear factor and the plot flails between being a forgettable homage to superior films and an unconvincing tale of suburban poolside terror. Despite attempts at depth with its character development and eerie score, “Night Swim” struggles to maintain buoyancy, often lapsing into tonal inconsistency and leaving viewers dry and comfortably seated, far from the edge of their seats​​.

But it’s not all missed opportunities; there are some silver linings. The supporting cast, including Amélie Hoeferle and Gavin Warren as the children, deliver performances that ripple beyond the script’s limitations, providing fleeting glimpses of what could have been a more compelling dive into the abyss of family and fear​​​​.

“Night Swim” is dubbed a “floating turd” by some, a harsh critique but perhaps a testament to its failure to launch the year with a horror splash. The film, despite its promising premise and capable cast, ultimately falls flat, a ghost of its potential self lurking in the unexplored depths of horror innovation​​. So, you might want to skip this swim and stay dry on land. Spoilers ahead!

Director: Bryce McGuire
Writer: Bryce McGuire
Released January 5, 2024

I had low expectations going into this, but admittedly got a bit excited at the beginning of the film when the word “Temagami” was chanted by the entity. I suspected there may be some actual research and backstory to build for the plot.

The name “Temagami” has indigenous roots, coming from the Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) language “Teme Augama” meaning “deep water by the shore”. The area is home to the Temagami First Nation, an Anishinaabe First Nation. This is in northeastern Ontario, Canada, known for its wilderness, forests, and lakes, including Lake Temagami. It is a significant part of the Canadian Shield, an area known for its geological features and ancient rock formations. The indigenous people have lived in the area for thousands of years, and the land holds significant cultural and spiritual importance to them.

So, the idea of a horror story potentially rooted in indigenous folklore piqued my interest. I rather liked the idea of the pool being effectively haunted because of the natural source of its water supply. Too bad this wasn’t explored more. Especially with the less-than-scary entity reveal…

The movie is inoffensive. Performances were certainly not poor and I can’t fault the cinematography. Hell, the premise even caught my attention. The narrative itself, is just so stale. There is step 1: a supernatural thing happens to set up spooky stuff, step 2: a family, looking for a change, move into a new house, step 3: spooky shit happens, step 4: one of the family members does some research on the history of the house, step 5: the reveal and resolution. How many times have we seen this movie?