Weekly Review -- Rehash cinema

Open Water 2: Adrift (2006) -- Why did I rent Open Water 2? Frankly, I wanted to see just how this unnecessary sequel would work. It attempts to cash in on the success of the 2004 movie, but also offers a watchable story. A group of friends, including playboy Dan (Eric Dane), aqua-phobic Amy (Susan May Pratt) and her husband James (Richard Speight Jr.) reunite to go yachting. After a stupid mistake, they all end up in the water without a rope to climb back up onto the boat. As time passes, they try to devise a plan, but the circumstances are slowly turning them against one another... The main problem I had with this movie was the lack of psychological tension that the original had in spades. While Open Water felt like a voyeuristic odyssey into an impossible calamity, the sequel gives the impression of trying to imitate a documentary. Its style is too glossy and not half as realistic as Chris Kentis' techniques. Another thing I did not care for were certain characters' ridiculous decisions; I found myself yelling at the TV more than a few times. I also thought that using the 'based on true events' monicker was a bit on the tacky side, since the story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan's dissapearance was the basis for the original and this movie had nothing to do with that story, plot wise or character wise. Finally, I cannot believe that one of the movie's taglines is "In the water no one can hear you scream"; the makers of Alien should consider suing. The plot is not a disaster, since it offers relatable characters and mostly human reactions to one of the worst case scenarios. Still, this is merely the same game with more players, and its few good moments pale in comparison to the truly tense original film.

4/10