Night Swim movie review & film summary (2024)


The fact that the pool in question is so aggressively bland is also a nice touch. This is not some mid-century, kidney-shaped oasis. Nor is it a modern-day monstrosity with built-in slides, a swim-up bar and a grotto. This is a concrete, rectangular hole in the ground, the kind of pool you probably spent long, summer days playing Marco Polo in if you grew up in Southern California in the 1970s. 

Writer-director Bryce McGuire toys with the notion of an ancient and insatiable evil lurking below the surface of banal suburbia in expanding the short he made with Rod Blackhurst into his debut feature. That’s not a novel idea; it’s the stuff of Stephen King and David Lynch. But McGuire establishes enough tension off the top and makes effective use of sound design and camera angles to create a lingering, unsettling mood.  

A flashback to 1992 reveals a pigtailed, tween girl getting gobbled up by the pool when she reaches out at night to retrieve an elusive toy boat. Cut to the present day, as a family is about to move into that same house with a pool that’s crumbling from decades of neglect. Early on, McGuire makes some striking choices with upside-down shots and reflections, including the bright image of clouds and blue sky shining on the leaf-strewn pool cover. This place may seem inviting, he seems to be saying, but it’s unreliable. The steady gurgling and belching of the filter provide an unsettling rhythm, and the groan of the diving board suggests further dangers to come. 

The Waller family finds the clean-up prospect daunting at first, but they’re also optimistic about the stability and healing they hope this home outside the Twin Cities will bring. Ray Waller (Wyatt Russell) is a former major league baseball great whose multiple sclerosis diagnosis has forced him to retire from the game that’s long defined him. His wife, Eve (“The Banshees of Inisherin” Oscar nominee Kerry Condon), looks forward to laying down roots after moving the family from city to city for so many years. Teenage daughter Izzy (Amélie Hoeferle) has gotten better at fitting in by maintaining an attitude of cool detachment, but younger brother Elliot (Gavin Warren), a shy, scrawny kid, hasn’t been as successful. 

You can view the original article HERE.

N.Y. Assemblyman Introduces ‘Peanut’s Law,’ Says Investigation Request Ignored
N.Y. Assemblyman Introduces ‘Peanut’s Law,’ Says Investigation Request Ignored
‘B.M.F.’ Big Meech Gets Porcelain Veneers After Prison Bid
‘B.M.F.’ Big Meech Gets Porcelain Veneers After Prison Bid
How TV news anchors gear up for election night
How TV news anchors gear up for election night
NBA Reopens Jaxson Hayes Investigation After TMZ Video of 2021 Incident
NBA Reopens Jaxson Hayes Investigation After TMZ Video of 2021 Incident
Nothing Left to Prove: Quincy Jones (1933-2024) | Tributes
Nothing Left to Prove: Quincy Jones (1933-2024) | Tributes
Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol Ending, Explained
Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol Ending, Explained
Every TV Series Coming to Major Streaming Services in November 2024
Every TV Series Coming to Major Streaming Services in November 2024
The Unloved, Part 131: Dark City | MZS
The Unloved, Part 131: Dark City | MZS
Kneecap to headline alongside CMAT, English Teacher and more
Kneecap to headline alongside CMAT, English Teacher and more
I was crying at a certain point because I felt that I had hurt him
I was crying at a certain point because I felt that I had hurt him
Gina Zollman To Perform Her Show “ORI gina LS” At The Arthur Newman Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Sunday 11/24/24
Gina Zollman To Perform Her Show “ORI gina LS” At The Arthur Newman Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Sunday 11/24/24
Iggy Pop announces “landmark” 2025 London and Glasgow shows
Iggy Pop announces “landmark” 2025 London and Glasgow shows
The 3 Biggest Scandals in Sports History
The 3 Biggest Scandals in Sports History
Kiss918 on the Edge: Pushing the Boundaries of Digital Casino Innovation
Kiss918 on the Edge: Pushing the Boundaries of Digital Casino Innovation
Patriots’ Maye clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Titans
Patriots’ Maye clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Titans
Silver: NBA looking at ‘other formats’ for 2025 ASG
Silver: NBA looking at ‘other formats’ for 2025 ASG
The End Trailer Arrives for 2024’s Most Audacious Film
The End Trailer Arrives for 2024’s Most Audacious Film
Taylor Sheridan is Correct: Critics Have Become Irrelevant
Taylor Sheridan is Correct: Critics Have Become Irrelevant
Silence of the Lambs Influenced Daisy Ridley’s New Movie Magpie
Silence of the Lambs Influenced Daisy Ridley’s New Movie Magpie
Emilia Clarke’s ‘The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland’ Gets Release Date
Emilia Clarke’s ‘The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland’ Gets Release Date
Banana Republic’s Holiday Campaign, Burberry’s Stock Rises
Banana Republic’s Holiday Campaign, Burberry’s Stock Rises
The Best-Dressed Stars at LACMA Art + Film Gala 2024
The Best-Dressed Stars at LACMA Art + Film Gala 2024
Beauty Made In Italy Brings A Big Crowd To The West Hollywood EDITION Hotel
Beauty Made In Italy Brings A Big Crowd To The West Hollywood EDITION Hotel
The Best-Dressed Stars At The 2024 WSJ Innovator Awards
The Best-Dressed Stars At The 2024 WSJ Innovator Awards