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Night Swim (2024)

 


Night Swim is a supernatural horror film based on the short film that writer-director Bryce McGuire debuted back in 2014.

They might have been holding on to this film for a while to have a decade between the short film and the feature-length film. Dumping it in January is a thing Hollywood does if they don't have faith in the film. It's clear from the opening scenes that McGuire doesn't know horror as well as I would like. 

Kerry Condon plays the main character who has to balance her husband's illness and her son's social cluelessness. I forgot that she was the woman in that old Luc Besson - Jet Li film Unleashed, but you might remember her from The Banshees of Inisherin or Better Call Saul. She does have some blank stares that could have been reshot, it's not really her fault there.

As much as I do love hockey, I don't have the same fondness for former player-turned-actor Wyatt Russell. He plays the husband and overacts through all of his scenes, between this and the Disney+ Falcon and the Winter Soldier he has only disappointed me. He needs a coach. 

The film lacks terror and horror. The only solid acting comes from partial newcomer Amélie Hoeferle. There are moments of eye-rolling and the only saving grace is how the movie ends. Result: D+

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