Entertainment Blog #204 | Night Swim [2024] - What's in the Pool ???

Night Swim is one of the movies that I was hyped to watch this year. Its trailers were released back in December, and I thought the concept is brand new and the movie could be great if the execution is perfect. And a few days ago, I watched the movie and this is my review..

Night Swim, a supernatural horror directed and written by Bryce McGuire in his feature directorial debut, premiered on January 5, 2024, and starred Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon. It was the first collaboration between production powerhouses Jason Blum's Blumhouse Productions and James Wan's Atomic Monster banners.

Night Swim takes viewers in a chilling journey that takes place in two timelines. In 1992, a seemingly innocent family pool is the setting for a tragic incident in which a young girl was attempting to retrieve her terminally ill brother's toy boat and was mysteriously dragged underwater. In the present day, the Waller family—Ray, Eve, and their children Izzy and Elliot—decides to incorporate this seemingly idyllic pool into their new home. As former baseball player Ray, whose health level is decaying, the doctors recommended having pool therapy.

In the process of searching for a new home, the Waller family caught the eye of this beautiful home with a pool where there's been only one resident in past two decades. With the agreement of Ray and her beloved wife, also with the interest of their children, they decided to buy the house and pull-stop the journey of switching residents.

But the thing is, they didn't know that they bought the house with the pool. But the seems like had been the habitat of a powerful supernatural entity, which gives better dreams at first and nightmares at last. How would this Waller family deal with this resident and the pool?? it's up to you to find out.

Despite its promising premise, Night Swim received lukewarm reviews. While Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon delivered strong performances, the film struggled with a premise that was deemed insufficient to support a feature-length production. Rotten Tomatoes reviewers praised the film's initial potential and sporadic scares, but ultimately found it lacking. The audience response, as measured by CinemaScore, was about average, with 45% giving it a positive score. Nevertheless, the film grossed $31 million worldwide, indicating a box office presence.

Night Swim's creepy plot and supernatural twists provided a mixed cinematic experience. Despite its commercial success, the film's critical reception indicates a disconnect between viewer expectations and the execution of its haunting narrative. The collaboration of horror juggernauts Blum and Wan sparked interest, but the film struggled to realize its full potential, leaving a sense of unexplored horror in its wake.