Actor-turned-director David Oyelowo (Selma) makes the unexpected choice in his feature directorial debut, The Water Man. The creative noticed that there was a lack of magic and wonder on screen that used to be more prevalent in films such as The Goonies or E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial. Working from an original screenplay from Emma Needell, he sought to rectify this in his own small way by crafting a family film that tackled heavy subjects such as death, abuse and estrangement in a way that never talks down to the younger members of the audience. The result is something quite stirring and often beautiful, but not without its problems. The actor shows good instincts behind the camera when it comes to harnessing strong performances from his cast, but some of the clunky dialogue the children have to deliver shows some weakness in the source material. Nevertheless, the film succeeds in offering a bit of mystical escapism that we could all use right now.
The story centers on young Gunner Boone (Lonnie Chavis, This Is Us), an 11-year-old with precocious energy to spare who has just moved to Pine Mills, Oregon with his family. The inquisitive kid can often be spotted hanging around the local bookstore (whimsically named “Once Upon A Time”) or scoping out local cemeteries, both in service of researching his graphic novel concerning a detective investigating his own death. His fascination with death is justified, as his mother, Mary (Rosario Dawson, The Mandalorian), is currently battling leukemia. His relationship with his mother is one filled with great love, as she indulges in all of his playful eccentricities. The one that he has with his father Amos (Oyelowo), a marine who has spent long stretches of Gunner’s childhood away from home, is considerably less warm and fuzzy as his occasionally harsh demeanor presents as a barrier.
When Gunner hears tale of a local legend about a figure known as The Water Man with mysterious healing powers, he does not react in terror like other kids who view the reanimation of dead creatures as creepy. Instead, he views this with fascination; he believes if he was able to reach The Water Man he might be able to heal his mother. After gaining some necessary biographical info on The Water Man from the local eccentric undertaker (Alfred Molina, Promising Young Woman), Gunner runs away from home and sets off on an adventure through the forest with a local girl named Jo (Amiah Miller) who claims to have seen The Water Man – and she has the scars to prove it. Although the movie takes a whimsical tone, the journey they embark upon is one that never betrays reality. While the “magical” forest presents with seemingly unexplainable things like stampeding wild horses and “snow in July,” the pair will soon realize how real the danger is they are heading into.
This may have a veneer of simplicity that could make you want to dismiss this as something of superior drama, but the pathos injected into the story will resonate with anyone who has ever had a sick family member. The performance from young Lonnie Chavis is given real weight as he grasps for any possibility that his mother may be okay, not to mention the deepening friendship with Miller. Rosario Dawson is also treated as more than just the “sick mom” as Oyelowo provides her with moments to sit with her emotions and really dive into the complexities of what she is feeling. Oyelowo himself handles the role of the repressed father with great care, as his own journey to rescue his son is an emotional one as much as it is physically dangerous. The screenplay from Needell makes the wise decision to treat the emotional arcs as the showcase of the film rather than the spectacle of the journey – which does provide the necessary thrills.
A major point of praise in The Water Man is that it rarely goes for the easy emotional manipulation. Characters and their motivations are treated with the respect they deserve. Where it goes slightly askew is in some of the trite dialogue and narrative missteps. The great Maria Bello (A History Of Violence) is rather wasted as a local Sheriff mostly used in an expository manner. Outside of the family, the main focus remains on the kids which provides for the biggest emotional moments. Visually the film is capably put together and lensed by cinematographer Matthew J. Lloyd, but a bit less brightness may have helped conjure an even more uneasy atmosphere to get the most out of the perilous journey. The Water Man is not an all-time classic, but it is a good addition to the family adventure genre thanks to the thoughtful storytelling choices from director David Oyelowo. He shows great promise behind the camera, and a close eye should be kept on his next project.
Video Quality
The Water Man comes to Blu-Ray with a gorgeous AVC encoded 1080p transfer that showcases the look of the film really well. Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail both in the animated sequences and in the gorgeous shots of nature in the natural world. Everything from the smallest facial details to the texture of the animation is quite impressive. The cinematography features some nice pops of color with everything appearing very natural, especially in the moments of bright orange from the fire. The picture is mostly clear with only brief instances of murkiness during a few darker scenes. Black levels are admirable but could stand to be a bit deeper. Skin tones are natural throughout with some impeccable details present in certain shots. Overall, this is quite a powerful transfer that should please fans.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is quite powerful and well balanced. Environmental effects play a substantial role in the film, and this track brings these elements to life quite capably. The use of the rear channels to create a fully enveloping world works quite well. The directionality is quite precise so sounds always present as natural when coming from their respective points. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by any of the other sounds. Activity in the low end delivers during some of the more kinetic sequences, especially the perilous finale. RLJE Films has delivered a great track for a film that really packs a punch.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director/actor David Oyelowo and cinematographer Matthew J. Lloyd provide an amiable commentary track in which they discuss the themes of the film, the idea behind some stylistic choices, the performances, the production schedule, personal connections to the material and so much more that makes for a very worthwhile track.
- The Making of The Water Man: A nine-minute featurette in which the cast and crew offer insights into the film including character breakdowns and dissection of the major themes. This is fairly standard, but it is nice to hear these performers speak in depth about their place in the film.
- Animation Behind-The-Scenes: A ten-minute featurette in which Animation Chief Chel White and other members of the crew discuss the creative process of bringing the animated segments of the film to life in a way that aligns with the creative vision of Oyelowo.
- Toronto International Film Festival Q&A: A 27-minute interview recorded virtually in 2020 featuring cast and crew including director/actor David Oyelowo, screenwriter Emma Needell, and actors Alfred Molina, Amiah Miller, Lonnie Chavis, Rosario Dawson, and Maria Bello. This might be my favorite supplement included in this package thanks to all the different voices we get to hear from in a more candid setting.
- Mini Comic Book: Included inside the Blu-Ray case in a reproduction of “The Adventures of Detective Knoxx” that Gunner is working on in the film. This is a nice touch which shows the benefit of physical media.
Final Thoughts
The Water Man is an enjoyable family adventure from first time director and star David Oyelowo. More than many films, this narrative really handles the emotional resonance of the material with a deft hand. The performances are pretty strong all around, even if some characters are saddled with clunky dialogue or are underdeveloped on a script level. RLJE Films has released a Blu-Ray with a top-tier A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. While it may not go down as an instant classic, the film is one that should hold up nicely upon repeated viewings. Recommended
The Water Man will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on August 17, 2021.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: RLJE Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
