‘Night Swim’ Review – Nobody Fears Shallow Water

Ah, January. Once again we kick off the year with the month notorious for the cinematic equivalent of a curse, especially as it relates to the horror genre. It’s almost become a yearly necessity to expect that a horror film offloaded into January is going to be bad. Like cookies and cream or peanut butter and jelly, January and bad horror are destined for one another. That isn’t always the case, it’s no guarantee, but year after year we’re exposed to the same phenomenon; as far as this year goes, we’ve already been given Night Swim… and it’s no different.

With Blumhouse’s recent acquisition of James Wan’s Atomic Monster (his production company, to be clear), as well as Wan being on board as producer, there was hope for Night Swim. Being based on a successful short film of the same name from the early 2010’s, as well as returning one of the directors of said short film, this odd-concept horror film promised intrigue beneath the surface; an unsuspecting, low-key feel that trained us from the trailer to anticipate big things. It seemed like something sinister was behind the curtain. Yet, now, we know better; behind the curtain is a (slightly damp) empty stage, deteriorating beneath the corrosive weight of careless storytelling and hollow characters. This is a eulogy, though an expected one. 

Bryce McGuire, in his feature debut, isn’t all bad. He directs the film with a sense of reverence for the story, and whether or not it actually deserves it, he’s earned respect in that regard. Nothing stands out all that much, but towards the climax, he’s able to stack a few decent scary set-pieces and create a little energy to carry the whole thing home. You’ll know the best scene when you see it, and you’ll know that the rest of the film won’t top it. Still, what’s good is good and it should be recognized, especially when the good is scarce.

Scarce really is the word, here. Night Swim is scarce in just about every regard. The character writing is completely borrowed; a fragmented portion of work completely disconnected from the potential uniqueness of the story at hand. You can see the impact such a thing carries in the performances, too. The usually magnificent Wyatt Russell in the lead is the perfect example. Here, he’s essentially a caricature of his arc, operating on ghostly intuitions that the screenplay suggests, leaving all of his signature heat behind. You can’t blame him, but it makes this film all the worse.

Scarce. Nothing stands out, and all runs thin. There isn’t a trace of involvement from Wan, either. Perhaps there is a specific crowd that will enjoy this one, but if the reactions from all corners thus far are any indication, that may be a lost cause, too. The only way in which Night Swim tries to make a name for itself is in establishing lore: why the water and pool act the way that they do.

This effort is admittedly commendable. When you have a story about what is essentially a haunted pool, you have a lot of ground to cover in making the idea somewhat serious and remotely sensible. This film generally accomplishes both; not with flying colors, but on a basic level that works for the third act, when all the information floods in.

Even then, that isn’t nearly enough to redeem the film on the whole. Unless you’re just desperate for new horror content, the lukewarm waters of Night Swim should be avoided. There isn’t anything here in the way of compelling content or moving scares. For the last time, it is simply scarce in just about every way imaginable.

Night Swim is currently playing in theaters courtesy of Universal Pictures. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcSNqteCEtE&t=17s]