Black Water (2007)
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Black Water Movie Review
Black Water is a 2007 horror film set in Australia. It’s a very solid crocodile horror film which is definitely worth seeing for horror enthusiasts.
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“I’ll be back.
That’s what he said“
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It is set in the mangrove swamps of northern Australia where Grace, her sister and husband are going on a swamp tour. Suddenly, a crocodile attacks them, kills their guide and it is up to the three of them to survive. The story is of course slight, but it works as everything we need is the crocodile and this awesome swamp setting which I absolutely loved.
The characterization is of course the problem as I did not care for either of them and I found them uninteresting and poorly developed. Adam is forgettable and Lee is heroic and likable, but in terms of acting Diana Glenn as Grace easily gave the finest performance with the other two being weak.
The film isn’t scary enough and it’s somewhat slow. However, it benefits from a couple of definitely fantastic scenes such as the entire ending which is so well done and hugely entertaining. The highlight for me was the scene in which the crocodile jumped from the water which was unexpected and a great jump scare so well executed.
They made use of this setting so well and I really liked how the film was shot. Some of the low shots are very effective in building the tension. I wanted more action and much more exploration of the swamp, but still the more grounded approach paid off in terms of realism.
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Black Water is admirable for using so little CGI in it which I respected a lot. The crocodile is real and the dead bodies are practical effects. That’s why the film felt realistic and the crocodile is in particular very memorable and such a great, menacing villain.
It’s a shame we did not see more of him, but that approach with less instead of more is classic horror which is interesting. The shots of the croc emerging from the water all stole the show here. And of course the scene where you can hear him eating and crushing the human bones was so creepy.
Black Water needed more scares and the characterization is poor with the acting also being weak. But it’s still a pretty solid croc attack film with a couple of very creepy, so well executed sequences, a great use of its interesting setting and an admirable approach with less action, more realistic scenarios and no use of CGI whatsoever.
