News

Review: ‘Black Water: Abyss’ Flounders In The Dark

Published

4 years ago

August 6, 2020

There’s just something about predator animals and natural disasters that really strikes a nerve with the primal psyche. Asa species, we have advanced to the point where we don’t have to worry about something above us on the food chain taking a bite out of us. But yet, the fear remains. Which also explains why real life incidents of animal attacks are so newsworthy. Every time a bear or a shark attacks someone, that’s a headline. As was the case when in 2003 when a trio of young people went out into the Northern Australian wilderness and found themselves under siege by a voracious crocodile. This served as the basis for the 2007 movie, Black Water. Now, some 13 years later, a sequel arises from the outback with Black Water: Abyss.

Taking the setting back to Northern Australia, Jennifer (Jessica McNamee) spurred on by her daredevil boyfriend Eric (Luke Mitchell) and friends Yolanda, Viktor, and Cash (Amali Golden, Benjamin Hoetjes, Anthony J. Sharpe) decide to go spelunking in the wilderness. Descending into a newly formed and seemingly untouched cave system. As misfortune would have it, a storm hits, flooding the caves and sealing them in. And if that wasn’t bad enough, they have some very hungry reptile guests to deal with.

Image via IMDB

Director Andrew Traucki co-directed the original story of crocodile survival in Black Water and did work on the similar animal isolated danger of The Reef featuring swimmers vs sharks. Now, returning solo, he has gone back to his roots with this spiritual sequel. Unfortunately despite the potential of the setting and plot and the everlasting terror of crocodiles, the movie in’t that enthralling. In the wake of such movies as Crawl and 47 Meters Down that managed to up the stakes to as high of a level as they could go. So, while Black water: Abyss has an interesting premise that promises a lot of danger, the action and horror of the crocodile foes tends to slog on.

A major focus of the plot often falls to the characters many dysfunctions and in-fighting as they struggle to survive. Which is good to filling out their character’s depths more, but at the same time falls into soap opera like drama. Such as Viktor’s recovery from cancer and some rather overt twists and turns in the characters relationships and revelations. And let’s face facts, we’re here for the monsters, in this case, the crocs. With the way the movie is filmed we don’t get as much of them as we’d like and the scares aren’t wholly effective.

Some of my favorite scenes in the movie are actually at the beginning during the prologue of sorts. A couple of Japanese tourists (Louis Toshio Okada, Rumi Kikuchi) are bickering in the outback when they accidentally crash down into the croc cave systems below. It makes for a real burst of adrenaline despite being short. And the movie does make good use of the Jaws like credo of the less you see, the scarier it is. Some of the more tense moments are when characters have to wade through the occupied waters, unsure when one of those scaly beasts will attack.

It’s not really groundbreaking, but if you’re in the mood for a quick story of spelunkers vs crocodiles underground, this is for you.

Black Water: Abyss hits VOD on August 7th, 2020

Image via IMDB

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

7 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

8 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Spirit Halloween (@spirithalloween)

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

10 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.