Night Swim

Movie Trailer:

Release Date:
January 5, 2024

Genre:
Horror, Thriller, Supernatural

Cast & Crew:

• Wyatt Russell as Ray Waller
• Kerry Condon as Eve Waller
• Amelie Zilber as Sarah Waller
• Gavin Warren as Lucas Waller
• Jacob Tremblay as Young Ray
• Bonnie Aarons as The Watcher
• Ethan Embry as Detective Harris

Director:
Bryce McGuire

Other Movies Director is Known For:

• Short Films: Night Swim (2014), Whispers (2013)
• Feature film directorial debut

Producer:

• James Wan
• Jason Blum
• Michael Clear
• Adam Hendricks

Writer:

• Bryce McGuire
• Rod Blackhurst (based on the short film Night Swim)

Budget:
Estimated $15 million

Production Company:
Blumhouse Productions, Atomic Monster Productions, Divide/Conquer

Running Time:
1h 38m

Languages:
English

Maturity Rating:
R

Content Advisory:

• Intense horror scenes
• Supernatural violence
• Disturbing imagery
• Strong language

Movie Story:
Night Swim (2024) is a chilling supernatural horror film that plunges into the dark and mysterious depths of a backyard swimming pool. The story centers on Ray Waller (Wyatt Russell) and his family—his wife Eve (Kerry Condon), daughter Sarah (Amelie Zilber), and son Lucas (Gavin Warren)—who move into a new home in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Unbeknownst to them, the house comes with a dark secret: the seemingly serene pool in the backyard is haunted by a malevolent presence.

As the family settles into their new life, Ray begins to notice strange occurrences around the pool, particularly at night. Objects mysteriously move, and unsettling noises echo from the water’s surface. Despite these eerie events, Ray dismisses them as his imagination—until he has a terrifying encounter during a late-night swim. He soon realizes that something sinister resides in the pool, something that feeds on fear and grows stronger with each passing night.

The tension escalates as Ray’s wife, Eve, and their children start experiencing their own terrifying encounters. Sarah, the teenage daughter, becomes increasingly obsessed with the pool, feeling an inexplicable draw to it, while young Lucas begins to have nightmares that blur the line between dreams and reality. Flashbacks reveal that Ray himself has a traumatic past involving water, adding another layer of psychological tension to the story.

As the haunting intensifies, Ray seeks help from Detective Harris (Ethan Embry), a local cop with a tragic history connected to the property. Together, they uncover the pool’s dark past, learning that it has been the site of numerous drownings and mysterious disappearances over the years. The malevolent force in the pool, known as “The Watcher” (played by Bonnie Aarons), is revealed to be the vengeful spirit of a woman who died tragically in the water long ago, and now she seeks to drag others into her watery grave.

The film builds to a terrifying climax as the family confronts The Watcher in a desperate bid to break the curse. The final showdown takes place in and around the pool, where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur, leading to a shocking and suspenseful conclusion.

Special Effects:
Night Swim uses a combination of practical effects and CGI to create the film’s eerie atmosphere and terrifying supernatural elements. The pool itself becomes a character in the film, with the water used to create haunting visual effects, such as ghostly apparitions and unsettling distortions. The film’s cinematography plays a crucial role in building tension, using shadow and light to enhance the feeling of dread that permeates the story. The practical effects team also worked to create realistic and disturbing underwater scenes that heighten the horror of the film’s key moments.

Box Office Performance:
As a January release, Night Swim is positioned to capitalize on the post-holiday horror audience, with potential to perform well at the box office, particularly among fans of supernatural thrillers. The film’s connection to successful producers like James Wan and Jason Blum, combined with its eerie premise and strong cast, is likely to draw a significant audience, making it a standout in the early 2024 horror lineup.

Filming Locations:

• Los Angeles, California, USA
• Atlanta, Georgia, USA
• Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Notable Quotes:

• “The water’s calm, but something beneath it isn’t.” – Ray Waller
• “It’s just a pool, right? What’s the worst that could happen?” – Eve Waller
• “She’s in the water. And she’s waiting.” – Detective Harris
• “Once it pulls you under, there’s no coming back.” – The Watcher

Behind-the-Scenes:
Director Bryce McGuire, expanding his original short film into a feature-length horror, brought his vision to life with the support of horror veterans James Wan and Jason Blum. The film’s production focused on creating a tense and atmospheric experience, with extensive work done on the visual and sound design to immerse the audience in the film’s supernatural world. The cast, led by Wyatt Russell, underwent underwater training to perform many of the film’s key scenes, adding authenticity to the terrifying underwater sequences.

Final Verdict:
Night Swim (2024) is a haunting and atmospheric horror film that expertly combines supernatural terror with psychological suspense. With strong performances, particularly from Wyatt Russell, and a gripping story that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, the film is a must-watch for horror fans. Its blend of chilling visuals, tense storytelling, and eerie sound design makes it a standout entry in the supernatural horror genre.

IMDb Rating:4.7

Image Source: Universal Pictures