It is the horror journey of Daniel and Susan as they embark on a tropical holiday in a sea with diving certificates. After leaving their tourist boat, things turned on a very bad course as they were accidentally stranded in shark-infested waters. Now, they must fight hard to survive and escape from that disaster.
Considered in its ham-handed entirety, Open Water feels more of an exercise in cinematic sadism.
FromTheBalcony
June 26, 2005
Open Water depends on the audience to be able to vicariously place themselves in the situation at hand, and if you can do that, you're in for a nerve-frying treat.
Kentis and Lau have labored to make an almost documentary-style film. It's meant to make us feel like we are really there, and to a large extent it succeeds.
New York Magazine/Vulture
August 15, 2004
Terrifying precisely because it doesn't go in for cheesy shock tactics and special effects.
CNN.com
August 13, 2004
The unforgiving power of nature are all on display to amazing, and frightening, effect.