Dead Calm

Somewhat predictable but beautifully filmed. Ask yourself, would you leave your grieving wife alone with an unknown castaway and take a rowboat out to investigate his story? Not me, especially when I could just drive over there with my yacht and stay with her.

such a great film, i remember seeing it back in the day and just watched it again

This review is an excerpt from my book “Killer B’s: The 237 Best Movies On Video You’ve (Probably) Never Seen,” which is available as an ebook on iBooks. If you enjoy this review, there are 236 more like it in the book (plus a whole lot more). Check it out! DEAD CALM: There’s really not a lot to say about this little thriller from Down Under, nor does a lot need to be said. The movie is really an example of Jack Palance’s “City Slickers” philosophy applied to filmmaking: “Choose one thing and do it well.” The “one thing” here is suspense, pure and simple—and end-to-end. There’s very little dialog, and very little needed, as fear is a universal language. The long stretches of silence enhance the atmosphere of solitude, just as the extreme long shots of the minuscule ships adrift in a vast ocean serve to accentuate the sense of isolation. It’s obvious that no cops or cavalry will ride out to rescue these people; their very survival is dependent solely on their wits and skills. In contrast to the shots of the expansive sea, much of the film is shot in claustrophobic close-ups. (Thank the Goddess that Kidman is worthy of hours of close-ups!) Onboard the boat, there is nowhere to hide and certainly nowhere to run. The intense suspense is virtually tangible. And even though the ending resorts to the “Thank God he’s dead! (Not!)” gimmick borrowed from countless slasher flicks, the twist is that it’s not a shock: We know full well what’s coming, and yet we still hold our breath in mesmerized suspense until it actually occurs. (That’s the difference between surprise and suspense. Watch Hitchcock; he knew!) And this tension leads to a grotesquely satisfying ending.

The movie is yes, full of suspense and keeps you on your toes throughout. It is also acted well and the story line is strong. BUT, there are some incidents throughout the movie that just don't make sense. Almost as if everyone became seriously stupid on purpose in order to increase the level of excitement - almost to the point where it insults your intelligence. And these incidents ruin the movie a lot - giving it an amateurish flavor, and detract seriously from what was good of the movie. For example, if you want to see a disappointing ending to a movie, this is one to watch.

This movie is absolutely fantastic. I take back one star because it's not sold in the its original ratio. It plays in 16/9, but the movie was shot in 2.35. So, big parts of the images are missing in the left and in the right. Nevertheless, the movie is a masterpiece.

This movie is a classic. The cast: Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman and Billy Zane all do a tremendous job of keeping us riveted to the screen. Sam did a particularly amazing job and this, of course, was a star making vehicle for Nicole Kidman.

Back then Billy Zane was just… just so hotttt!!!!!!! Oh yeah and uh… great movie (I couldn't take my eyes off of Billy Zane's great abs)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A great Australian film. Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill do an excellent job of playing a couple trying to save their marriage after a family tragedy, and Billy Zane convincingly portrays a unstable psychopath. There isn't much dialogue, but the acting is top notch. Amazing filming makes the "dead calm" open ocean feel eerie. It reminds me of a classic movie in the wide angle views and the palpable tension between Kidman and Zane. One of the best thrillers ever!

As far as suspense movies go, this one belongs on anyone's top ten list. The cast was at the time relatively unknown in the states, but all delivered memorable performances to catapult their careers. Dead Calm starts off innocently enough with a mother singing in the car to her small son. What happens next will leave you crying and the ensuing adventure will get you screaming! A fantastic movie for anyone looking for horror, but without all the gore!

if not for this movie, nicole kidman would never have been noticed by tom cruise, and therefore never had her talent and relationship fasttrack her to stardom. she is absolutly fantastic, a wonderful role model and SUPER talented actor.