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It’s funny to see how much horror has taken off in this VOD-only period, perhaps comforting viewers in the sense that it could always be worse. In a long history of cautionary vacation films that I like to call “don’t leave your couch movies” comes Australia’s “Black Water: Abyss,” a sequel to a little-seen but cult hit 2007 film called “ Black Water .” The set-up and execution are almost charmingly simple—send five people into a cave system with rising waters and a killer croc and see what happens next. My general affinity for monster movies carried me through most of this B-movie, but the execution leaves something to be desired, particularly in its murky underwater cinematography and filmmaking tricks that turn the killer croc into something out of a slasher movie. “Black Water: Abyss” is one of those movies that isn’t particularly good but may not have to be if you’re in the right mood.

Two couples carry a lot of non-physical baggage on an Australian spelunking trip. Eric ( Luke Mitchell ) and Jennifer ( Jessica McNamee ) are introduced with her checking his phone for signs of trouble in the relationship, so you know they’re not stable enough to be thrust into a life-or-death situation. On the other hand, Viktor ( Benjamin Hoetjes ) knows a thing or two about death, having just come out of successful cancer treatment. While he’d rather be resting, his girlfriend Yolanda ( Amali Golden ), who just discovered she’s pregnant, encourages him to go on a spelunking trip. A cheating boyfriend, a pregnant girlfriend, a recovering cancer patient—one has to give director Andrew Traucki credit for at least trying to give his inevitable croc food some distinguishing characteristics.

The couples are joined by their buddy Cash ( Anthony J. Sharpe ), who tells them about a cave system he discovered while looking for missing tourists. Yes, one might think that the missing tourists would serve as a caution sign, but then there’s no movie. Not only do Cash & Co. ignore the fact of missing people, but they’re a bit blasé about the incoming tropical storm too. Cash takes the couples into the cave system and through some tunnels into a gorgeous underground world, and then the storm hits, leading to rising waters and no way out. Finally, of course, they learn they’re not alone. If the water won’t drown them, a giant crocodile is going to eat them.

There’s an effective, admirable simplicity to a lot of “Black Water: Abyss.” When it’s not digging into thin relationship drama, it maintains a confident, claustrophobic nihilism. Sure, there are suggestions about how they could escape, and signs of hope, but it feels like a film in which viewers should merely be placing bets not on if these characters are going to die but how . Sadly, a final narrative twist is so ridiculous that it makes one wish either the whole thing was as goofy as this “ Anaconda ”-esque moment, or the film found a way to end in a more realistic fashion. Pick a Killer Croc lane.

If anything, “Black Water: Abyss” could have benefited by being even tighter in terms of bells and whistles. The soap opera final twist isn’t necessary, and Traucki over-uses Michael Lira ’s score, which sounds like it’s replicating “ Jaws ” during attacks. There’s a better version of “Black Water: Abyss” that doesn’t take itself quite as seriously, but when Traucki’s film is focused and no-nonsense, it’s just effective enough that fans of this kind of B-movie cinema won’t really care.

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

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Film Credits

Black Water: Abyss movie poster

Black Water: Abyss (2020)

Jessica McNamee as Jennifer

Luke Mitchell as Eric

Amali Golden as Yolanda

Anthony J. Sharpe as Cash

Benjamin Hoetjes as Viktor

  • Andrew Traucki
  • Ian John Ridley
  • Sarah Smith

Cinematographer

  • Damien Beebe
  • Scott Walmsley
  • Michael Lira

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Abbott Elementary Is Back in Session With A Sweet, Subdued Season 3

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Summary After a failed mission, deep-cover operative Wheeler (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is imprisoned in a CIA black site on a submarine. The CIA agents will to go to any lengths to get information from Wheeler—but nothing can prepare them for the storm of violence that erupts when he joins forces with a fellow prisoner (Dolph Lundgren) as deadly a ... Read More

Directed By : Pasha Patriki

Written By : Chad Law, Tyler W. Konney, Richard Switzer

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The Tragic True Story Behind Black Water, Explained

It may come as a surprise that the Australian horror flick Black Water is actually based on a true and terrifying crocodile attack from 2003.

  • Black Water, a 2007 Australian horror film, was inspired by a crocodile attack in real life.
  • Black Water fictionalizes the encounter, making the crocodile more anthropomorphic and malicious.
  • Black Water won multiple awards, and the film's sequel added a natural disaster to the plot.

Horror movies have the power to evoke strong feelings of anxiety and fear from their viewers. Whether from a sudden jolt of a jump scare or even just the appearance of the killer, the sheer terror that arises from this genre can be quite effective, even when knowing that it is all just a work of fiction. However, if a movie also boasts the "based on a true story" disclaimer right at the very beginning, the gravity of the horror that is about to unfold hits just a little differently, and it even begs the question of how much of the movie was inspired by actual events .

Black Water is an Australian horror film from 2007 that, at first glance, seems like another low-budget effort to capitalize off of other crocodile creature features like Lake Placid . So when this movie's opening warns audiences that "This film is based on true events," the warning may seem generic to some people, given that crocodiles and other predatory animals that have starred as the monsters of horror films are just as prone to attacking humans in real life. Despite being a work of fiction, Black Water is purposeful with its foreboding message, as its story was inspired by a real-life tragic event that happened four years earlier.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on December 25, 2023: Interest in horror movies has risen in the past two years, with the genre becoming perhaps the premiere type of film at the box office. This popularity has included both mainstream slasher franchises and one-shot hits, as well as older horror and thriller entries that have stood the test of time. One of the latter is Black Water, a terrifying crocodile movie that was based on real-life events, Visceral and grisly, this creature feature still drags viewers down into the murky depths for a truly scary story.

Black Water Is Based on a True Crocodile Encounter

The Crocodile in Black Water

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As reported by Daily Mail , in December 2003 (four years before the release of Black Water ), Shaun Blowers, Ashley McGough and Brett Mann took their quad bikes (similar to ATVs or four-wheelers) out for a ride through the swampy bushland near the Finniss River, a river south of the city of Darwin in Australia. Stopping by the river to cool off, the tide began to rise, and the three teenagers were attacked by a crocodile. In an attempt to escape from the creature, Mann's shoulder was unfortunately grabbed by the crocodile's mouth, causing him to be dragged underwater by the large reptile. Blowers and McGough were able to climb up into a tree before the crocodile returned.

After 22 hours of being up in a tree, a rescue helicopter was able to find and save the two young men from the crocodile in the river below. A search for the missing teens had been in progress since their disappearance from Sunday evening into late Monday when they did not return home that night. While Blowers and McGough were taken to the hospital to recover from the traumatic incident, Mann's body was sadly never found. These horrifying events were used to inspire the later Black Water movie.

How Black Water Dramatized True Events

Grace and Lee in Black Water

Betty White’s Best Role Is Lake Placid’s Foul-Mouthed Crocodile Queen

While the plot of Black Water does have a brutal crocodile attack and the survivors holding up in a tree as they wait for any sort of rescue, the similarities between the movie and the devastating real-life story end there. Instead of three friends quad biking near the river, Black Water 's main cast involves husband Adam, his wife Grace, his sister Lee and tour guide Jim, who is the first victim of the crocodile, going on a boat tour to do some fishing. Quickly into the movie's runtime, the crocodile attacks their boat, which claims the first victim and prompts the family to climb up the tree and eventually attempt to get the boat back into working order. By the end of the movie, Lee is the only survivor as Adam and Grace both die from crocodile-related injuries; Lee confronts the animal by shooting and killing the river monster with a revolver before wading down the water, leaving her fate unknown as the credits roll.

In the real-life tragedy, while the crocodile did continue to stalk Blowers and McGough, Black Water took a more anthropomorphic approach with the movie's monstrous reptile. As is the case with the antagonistic animals of the creature feature genre , this crocodile exhibits a far more aggressive attitude than its real-life counterpart may, going so far as to actually tip the tour guide boat over without any sort of provocation. While crocodiles are definitely dangerous and are known to attack both humans and other animals, especially in Australia, the relentless nature of the beast in the Black Water movie may have been slightly exaggerated for the horror aspect of the film. Regardless, these attacks still occur in real life and are sometimes fatal, like in the tragic case that made Black Water based on a true story. In the case of a crocodile encounter, though, one fact does remain the same in both the real-life story and the movie -- be sure to get out of the water as quickly as possible.

Characters facing the crocodile in Black Water.

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Black Water went on to receive surprisingly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The most notable part of this praise (beyond how successful the movie was at creating tension) was the lack of extensive CGI and the preference for practical special effect in the film. This is particularly commendable given that it was a low-budget Australian survival production , with the Black Water movie reportedly made for about $700,000 USD. Much of the movie's footage of crocodiles was shot in Darwin, Australia, with real saltwater crocodiles.

This afforded it a sense of authenticity, which helped the Black Water movie score over $1 million USD at the box office. Conversely, the movie also saw success when it came time for the movie awards season . Black Water won multiple movie awards in the Australian ranking system, and it was nominated for even more. The unexpected success of the crocodile horror film allowed it to become a modern classic, not to mention finally get a sequel made several years later.

Did Black Water Have a Sequel?

A family running away from attacking birds in The Birds 2: Land's End and the shark from Jaws: The Revenge. 

10 Horror Sequels That Ruined Their Franchise

Announced in 2018, a sequel to the Black Water movie was finally released in 2020. Titled Black Water: Abyss , it was also directed by Andrew Traucki. The movie switched things up by adding a natural disaster in the form of a tropical storm, with several friends getting stuck in Australia during the natural occurrence. Unfortunately, they're forced to contend with nature's true fury in the form of a gigantic crocodile.

Black Water: Abyss wasn't quite as well-received as the first Black Water movie, though it was seen as a success in its own right. Many noted the quality of the scares and kills, with the tone of the sequel also being surprisingly different from its predecessor. It released theatrically in Australia on July 10, 2020, with international distribution coming afterward. Black Water: Abyss and the first Black Water movie can both be streamed on multiple streaming platforms.

Maeve Dermody in the Water with an Alligator Eye underneath Her on Black Water Poster-1

Black Water

A pregnant woman, her boyfriend and her sister take a boat tour of a mangrove swamp, where they are terrorized by a killer crocodile. Directed by David Nerlich and Andrew Traucki. Starring Maeve Dermody, Diana Glenn and Andy Rodoreda.

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‘black water’: film review.

Jean-Claude Van Damme gets imprisoned on a submarine in Pasha Patriki's actioner 'Black Water.'

By THR Staff

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Deceptively billed as a team-up for frequent action-flick co-stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren , Pasha Patriki’s Black Water is actually a starring vehicle for the former that keeps the latter locked in a prison cell, lest his gruff charisma overshadow one of the dullest Van Damme performances to date. Making very little hay out of its promising premise (the two actors occupy neighboring cells in a submarine prison), this derivative B movie is sure to disappoint fans of prior JCVD/Lundgren outings — which are an awfully low bar to hurdle.

After an opening scene in which CIA agent Wheeler (Van Damme) awakens in a mysterious jail cell and gets some advice from longtime prisoner Marco (Lundgren), the film exiles Lundgren until nearly the 80-minute mark, offering just a few cutaways to him in his cell to remind viewers he’s there. We leap back in time to just before Wheeler’s capture: In a cheap Alabama motel, he’s making time with sometime lover, sometime partner Ballard (Courtney B. Turk). The latter looks young enough to be, if not Van Damme’s granddaughter, then at least his granddaughter’s former babysitter. But the pic presents her as a tough agent who dies in a heroic attempt to save one component of a Very Important Hard Drive.

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Release date: May 25, 2018

Wheeler has the other part of the system safe — “I’ve got the dongle,” as he puts it — which makes him a valuable prisoner to the FBI and CIA tough guys who take him into custody. The Bureau’s Ferris (Patrick Kilpatrick) believes this deep-cover operative has gone rogue and is trying to sell secrets to America’s enemies; the Agency’s Rhodes (Al Sapienza) thinks he’s clean. Both accompany him to the ultimate black site: a sub retrofitted to be a roving, escape-proof venue for Abu Ghraib-style interrogation.

The torture has barely begun when things fall apart, with some of the sub’s crew turning violently on the others. Wheeler gets free from his captors, eventually winning the trust of Taylor (Jasmine Waltz, a model who’s not a bit credible as an FBI agent). They sneak through the sub’s passageways picking off bad guys and trying to take the vessel over. For a grand total of 14 minutes, they free Marco from his cage so he can fight alongside them. It would be a big overstatement to say the sluggish flick gets lively during those 14 minutes, but at least it’s liveli er .

The directing debut for cinematographer Patriki, Black Water lights many sections of the sub as if they were seedy corners of a nightclub, but still fails to produce the claustrophobic, trapped-in-a-tin-can vibe of a Das Boot or Crimson Tide . The latter is the most relevant comparison, and not just because one of Black Water ‘s advertising posters is a direct rip-off of that film’s: Here, too, thrills are supposed to derive from the confined clash of powerful men and their double-crossing allies. But the actors clashing here are, to be kind, less magnetic than Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, and Patriki’s no Tony Scott.

Production company: Dawn’s Light Distributor: Saban Films Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Patrick Kilpatrick, Jasmine Waltz, Al Sapienza, Courtney B. Turk, John Posey, Kris Van Damme, Aaron O’Connell, Aleksander Vayshelboym Director-director of photography: Pasha Patriki Screenwriter: Chad Law Producers: Jason Cherubini, Alexander Ferguson, Tyler W. Konney, Richard Switzer Executive producers: David Allen, Chad Law, Pasha Patriki, Jean-Claude Van Damme Production designer: Fernando Valdes Costume designer: Ashley Nicole Allen Composer: Spencer Creaghan

Rated R, 104 minutes

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[Review] ‘Black Water: Abyss’ Sinks with Toothless Killer Croc Horror

' src=

The 2007 killer croc movie  Black Water  drew inspiration from a true story in which a pregnant woman, her boyfriend, and her sister were terrorized by a crocodile in a Northern Australian mangrove swamp. Directed by David Nerlich and Andrew Traucki , the movie used shot footage of crocodiles and tense plotting to create a simple yet effective killer croc creature feature. For its follow-up, Traucki goes solo and merges the original’s concept with the claustrophobic, cave-dwelling nightmare of  The Descent . If only the sequel lived up to that description.  

After a very promising opening sequence featuring a grisly attack in an undiscovered cave,  Black Water: Abyss   slows down to introduce the group of characters that will run afoul of some killer crocs. Adrenaline junkie Eric ( Luke Mitchell ) and his girlfriend Jennifer ( Jessica McNamee ) are spending time with their friends Yolanda ( Amali Golden ) and Viktor ( Benjamin Hoetjes ) in Northern Australia. Looking for their next adventure, they eagerly jump at the chance to tag along with local Cash ( Anthony J. Sharpe ) to check out a previously unexplored cave system. An unexpected tropical storm traps them below ground with rising floodwaters, and a bask of apex predators.

This sequel contains all the ingredients for a leaner, meaner survival thriller, namely a higher body count and a setting that allows for more exhilarating and visually exciting set pieces. While there are numerous tension-filled sequences, especially whenever characters are forced to enter the murky cave water,  Abyss winds up a mostly disappointing affair.

movie review black water

Penned by John Ridley & Sarah Smith , the script focuses heavily on character dynamics. Viktor is currently in remission and recovering from cancer treatments, making his decision to join the expedition a puzzling one. Jennifer, not nearly as adventurous as her boyfriend, spends much of her time looking through his phone for signs of cheating. Through Yolanda, the film annoyingly retreads a plot point from the first film, but here it feels like a cheap ploy to engender audience sympathy. Because these characters are so thinly written, none of this amounts to much outside of contrived drama.

The stars of the film, the crocs, get sidelined. There are tons of shots of the terrain and the rushing water, and plenty of spelunking scenes among the characters, but the crocs don’t appear as often as you’d think for a killer croc movie. They mostly seem content to poke their head above water to watch the human idiots implode from their melodrama. A large part of this issue is that Traucki is employing the same tricks from the previous film. Compositing live footage of the predator worked well before because the trapped trio was often hiding in a tree for safety, making the croc a lurking menace. It doesn’t work so well here because the heightened situation of a flooding cave means these characters are much more mobile and interactive with their restrictive space. This sequel doesn’t always know how to blend the croc shots with the humans. When the animals do attack, the lower budget often shows its seams. It’s as though Traucki is retracing the same steps without taking this film’s environment into account. It results in a haphazardly strung together series of sequences tethered by one-note characters that can’t die fast enough.

The very idea of applying a vicious animal to  The Descent formula teases a level of unrelenting dread and claustrophobic terror that this sequel never comes close to achieving. A few memorable moments, scares, and a promising opening scene show promise. Still, all of it is undermined by a severe lack of depth, overwrought drama, and suspense that can’t maintain any momentum. In other words, this killer croc flick is a mostly toothless affair.

Black Water: Abyss releases on VOD August 7, 2020.

movie review black water

Horror journalist, RT Top Critic, and Critics Choice Association member. Co-Host of the Bloody Disgusting Podcast. Has appeared on PBS series' Monstrum, served on the SXSW Midnighter shorts jury, and moderated horror panels for WonderCon and SeriesFest.

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Nightmarish Conjurings

[Movie Review] BLACK WATER: ABYSS

[Movie Review] BLACK WATER: ABYSS

  • August 4, 2020
  • Caitlin Kennedy

[Movie Review] BLACK WATER: ABYSS

BLACK WATER: ABYSS is directed by Andrew Traucki ( The Reef ) and is a follow-up to his 2007 crocodile horror Black Water . Black Water was loosely based on the real-life encounter of a saltwater crocodile attacking three tourists, enjoying a day trip in Australia’s Northern Territory, killing one, and stalking two survivors hiding in a tree. Black Water became an underground genre favorite, following its release.

In BLACK WATER: ABYSS , a group of friends explore a remote and partially submerged cave system deep in the forests of Northern Australia. When a tropical storm hits and causes floodwaters to rise in the cavern system, the group is trapped beneath the surface… in the territory of aggressive crocodiles. The film stars Jessica McNamee ( The Meg ), Luke Mitchell (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Amali Golden, Benjamin Hoetjes, and Anthony J. Sharpe.

As I mentioned at the outset, BLACK WATER: ABYSS is a textbook example of the creature feature subgenre. It hits all the right notes and delivers the familiar beats that devoted fans know and love. It has got the core group of semi-horny youths. It has exciting jump scares and a fantastic monster to rally behind. BLACK WATER: ABYSS is not pretentious, nor particularly innovative but is rooted in its identity and content to be the best crocodile feature it can be.

2020, for better or for worse, has delivered a lot of slow-burn horror. An effective trend, but exhausting. BLACK WATER: ABYSS instantly hits a refreshing note by not dragging out the terror. The film starts on an energetic note and introduces its killer crocs right off the bat. It knows what we’re all here for! The film shares a producer with the shark horror 47 Meters Down and a touch of that influence can be seen onscreen. There are some truly fantastic shots of the crocs that are compelling enough to really stick in the mind. Well done.

BLACK WATER: ABYSS has its flaws, despite being a ton of fun. The film has a few inconsistencies that become frustrating to the viewer as the story continues. Starting out, the film is appealing because it’s grounded in a certain level of realism. Instead of taking a freakish, monstrous approach to its killer crocs, the film recognizes crocodiles as the living dinosaurs that they are, not in need of enhancement. This gives the entire film credibility, anchoring it in a realistic and, therefore, more terrifying horror.

As the film progresses, it appears that BLACK WATER: ABYSS loses some of its confidence in presenting the crocodiles. At one point, it seems that Jurassic Park rules apply: just as the T-Rex can only see movement, the crocodiles of BLACK WATER: ABYSS are only drawn to splashing. At other moments, the crocodiles come out of nowhere despite the efforts of the group. Sometimes, safety is as simple as getting out of the water and sometimes the crocodile jumps out to grab its victim anyway. The rules of the film keep changing and it muddies some of the tension building that is established early on.

Beyond “croc mechanics” the film stays true to its course, minus the introduction of some third-act personal dramas that create an unnecessary distraction. All of that being said, these flaws are not to the detriment of the film so much as blemishes on an otherwise perfect crocodile film.

BLACK WATER: ABYSS is an absolute blast! It delivers on exactly what genre fans want and serves up croc horror with a toothy grin. A ton of fun for the summer and highly recommended by this creature feature freak!

BLACK WATER: ABYSS is in select theaters and On Demand on August 7, 2020!

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Black Water Reviews

movie review black water

...the indie-stylings of Black Water help distinguish it as a unique entry in the creature feature horrors. It may be the smallest of the Aussie croc flicks, but it's no less effective.

Full Review | Aug 4, 2020

movie review black water

Splendid in its economy, Black Water gets a grip on our senses and never lets go %u2026 the writer/directors portray nature as something wondrous and deadly all at once, which is what it is of course, without guilt, without an agenda %u2013 except surviva

Full Review | Apr 18, 2008

movie review black water

...an uneven yet sporadically tense thriller...

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Feb 26, 2008

Nasty, brutish and at 89 minutes just the right length.

Full Review | Feb 22, 2008

Writer-directors David Nerlich and Andrew Traucki calibrate the tension with creditable skill.

While the when-animals-attack genre has been a staple of direct-to-retail movies for decades now, this tries for a more realistic approach than the usual rubber or CGI reptile's buffet.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 22, 2008

movie review black water

There are some nice creepy chills to be had from the directors David Nerlich and Andrew Traucki's low waterlevel camera work, but ultimately the outlandishness of their real-life adventure deadens the visceral impact.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 22, 2008

Packs enough shocks to keep you gripped, not to mention a conclusion that refreshingly refutes the genre rulebook.

Lean and mean, this basically does for crocodiles what Open Water did for sharks, Snap it up.

Well acted and all the more engaging for having been based on a true story, ultimately Black Water lacks teeth.

Short, sharp and refreshingly nasty, it's a light antidote to all those heavy Oscar hopefuls clogging up the multiplex.

Tapping into the primeval fear generated by these perfectly evolved killing machines, the filmmakers ratchet up the tension, while sustaining our interest in the fate of the trio.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/6 | Feb 22, 2008

A barely disguised B-movie - but one that bites deep.

movie review black water

Watchable crocky horror flick that makes the most of its low budget and simple set-up, though the characters aren't especially engaging and you keep hoping they'll get eaten.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 21, 2008

movie review black water

"Black Water" is the scariest film of its type since "Jaws" - you'll wanna strap in for this one ... otherwise you'll be continuously jumping out of your seat. One of the most genuinely scary films I've seen in a long time.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 11, 2008

A lack of incisive action takes the teeth out of croc pic...offering too few scares and insufficient tension for audiences to take the bait.

Full Review | Jan 22, 2008

movie review black water

Black Water may be derivative, but it ain't no crock

Full Review | Dec 10, 2007

movie review black water

There's something to be said for a chomp-em-up tale that exhibits some class, intensity, and restraint.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 20, 2007

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Black Water: Abyss

Common sense media reviewers.

movie review black water

Low-budget Australian horror has violence, peril, swearing.

Black Water: Abyss Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Courage and teamwork to overcome perilous situatio

Friends teach each other outdoor activities and wo

Characters are attacked by dangerous animals, resu

Conversations about pregnancy. Couple kiss while f

Language used includes "arse," "bastard," and vari

Character takes pride in an expensive torch they b

Characters drink alcohol in pubs in moderation.

Parents need to know that Black Water: Abyss is an Australian horror-drama with serious peril and a number of gory, deadly animal attacks. The bulk of the movie takes place with five friends -- led by (Luke Mitchell) and Cash (Anthony J. Sharpe) -- trapped in an underground cave system that is slowly flooding…

Positive Messages

Courage and teamwork to overcome perilous situations. Caring for loved ones. Lies are exposed.

Positive Role Models

Friends teach each other outdoor activities and work together to escape peril. Characters shown to care for one another, but there is also some deception and relationship drama. The main cast is gender-balanced but has little diversity.

Violence & Scariness

Characters are attacked by dangerous animals, resulting in injury and death. Accidents in an underground cave result in scenes of terror and peril. Characters also sustain bloody injuries because of this, with some mild gore. Fatal attacks are generally cut away from and happen off-screen. Altercation with a firearm. Reference to cancer.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Conversations about pregnancy. Couple kiss while fully clothed on a bed.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language used includes "arse," "bastard," and variants of "f--k."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Character takes pride in an expensive torch they bought for a trip.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Black Water: Abyss is an Australian horror-drama with serious peril and a number of gory, deadly animal attacks. The bulk of the movie takes place with five friends -- led by ( Luke Mitchell ) and Cash (Anthony J. Sharpe) -- trapped in an underground cave system that is slowly flooding around them, while being under threat of death from predatory crocodiles. During this time they are shown to care for each other and work together, in attempt to keep one another safe from being attacked by dangerous animals. But eventually the lies of certain characters are exposed. During the crocodile attacks very little detail is shown on screen, but there is some gore and dismemberment after the cutaways. Characters are shown to be terrified and often experience bloody injuries. Swearing is occasional, usually in response to characters being shocked, surprised, or scared by imminent danger during their trip, but includes variants of "f--k," along with "arse" and "bastard." The movie has been described as a "spiritual sequel" to Black Water , a 2007 cult hit by the same director, Andrew Traucki. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Black Water: Abyss Trailer

Community Reviews

  • Parents say

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

BLACK WATER: ABYSS follows the travels of five friends, led by Eric ( Luke Mitchell ) and Cash (Anthony J. Sharpe), through a network of caves in a remote part of Northern Australia. But when they discover a group of deadly crocodiles in the caves' water, their adventure turns into an escape mission.

Is It Any Good?

Borrowing the premise from Jaws , the setting of The Descent , and the killer crocs from a dozen forgettable B-movies, this horror-drama sets off underground and proceeds to lose its way quickly. Working with a script that has as many lines of memorable dialogue as it does new ideas, the cast do their best to gasp, splutter, and splash their way through Black Water: Abyss' choppy, poorly paced action sequences that are about as dramatic as a badly organized swimming lesson.

A bolted-on drama involving one character's cancer scare and another's pregnancy does little to raise the stakes. Watching what feels like a charmless soap opera play out in an unlikely setting, it's almost enough to make the viewer wish the water would rise a little higher and hope the crocodiles manage an early lunch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in Black Water: Abyss . How much was shown, and how much was suggested? How did it affect you?

Was the movie scary ? What's the appeal of horror movies?

Talk about the strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

Discuss the relationships between the characters. Were they believable? How did their relationships impact the story?

Movie Details

  • In theaters : August 7, 2020
  • On DVD or streaming : October 6, 2020
  • Cast : Jessica McNamee , Luke Mitchell , Amali Golden
  • Director : Andrew Traucki
  • Inclusion Information : Female actors
  • Studio : Altitude Film Distribution
  • Genre : Horror
  • Run time : 98 minutes
  • MPAA rating : NR
  • Last updated : June 20, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews

Blackwater (2007)

Four young women tourists are hunted by ruthless woodsmen in the Florida Everglades. Four young women tourists are hunted by ruthless woodsmen in the Florida Everglades. Four young women tourists are hunted by ruthless woodsmen in the Florida Everglades.

  • Bill Rogers
  • Bill Schreiber
  • R. Douglas Zipperer
  • Wilson Hawthorne
  • Georgia Chris
  • McCayne Blomberg
  • 6 User reviews

Amy Simon

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  • All cast & crew
  • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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  • Soundtracks Face of the Fire Written by Bill Schreiber Performed by Diane Russell, Mike Carrington, Bill Rogers , Bill Schreiber Produced by Bill Schreiber , Michael Carrington, Bill Rogers Mixed & Mastered by Michael Carrington

User reviews 6

  • Platypuschow
  • Jun 14, 2018
  • How long is Blackwater? Powered by Alexa
  • July 14, 2012 (United States)
  • United States
  • Official site
  • Devil's Garden, Florida, USA
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  • See more company credits at IMDbPro
  • $650,000 (estimated)

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  • Runtime 1 hour 28 minutes

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The Best Black History Movies, According to This Year’s Oscar Nominees

By Lisa Wong Macabasco

The Best Black History Movies According to This Years Oscar Nominees

February, which marks Black History Month, is the perfect time to cue up movies that explore and honor moments both large and small, joyous and heart-wrenching, from modern Black history. Here, we’ve asked some of this year’s Academy Award nominees—including Danielle Brooks, Cord Jefferson, and Jon Batiste—for their favorite Black history movies, and added a few of our own into the mix, too. Consider this merely a starting point for exploring the rich landscape of Black history movies—and an easy way to celebrate Black film and history all year round.

Juice (1992)

The acting, the haircuts, the score, the wardrobe, the screenplay—all of those elements came together to masterfully depict and humanize a facet of society that is still profoundly misunderstood. —Jon Batiste, nominee for best music (original song), “It Never Went Away,” from American Symphony.

How to watch: Stream on Max .

Boyz n the Hood (1991)

I was too young to see the movie when it came out (I was two), so I didn’t get to see this film until my adulthood. I was so moved and in awe, not only because of John Singleton’s incredible filmmaking and storytelling but also because of his representation of the complex aspects of South LA and Black masculinity in a grounded and honest way. I could relate to so many aspects of Tre and saw myself in parts of his world and life that I hadn’t really seen onscreen in that way before. —Kris Bowers, nominee for best documentary short film, The Last Repair Shop

How to watch: Rent on Apple TV+ .

​​ Summer of Soul (2021)

Summer of Soul is that movie for me. I love Black documentaries because they transport us back to our ancestors, back to where we came from. So much of our history has been erased. The fact that Questlove brought the Harlem Cultural Festival back to life, so we may always witness our joy through the celebration of music by the remarkable talent that performed that day, is truly a gift. This is a film that should be played in the background of every family gathering where a TV is present. It uplifts. —Danielle Brooks, nominee for best actress in a supporting role, The Color Purple

Everything You Need to Know About Hair Perfume

By Kiana Murden

Michelle Yeoh’s Guide to Skincare Squats and a 10-Minute Makeup Look

By Veronica Cristino

How to watch: Stream on Disney+ .

Malcolm X (1992)

I think it’s Spike Lee’s masterpiece. It’s such a nuanced portrayal of a difficult man, and it’s such a high degree of difficulty. Normally biopics that are from cradle to the grave are sort of a terrible idea. It’s difficult to cram in that much of somebody’s life in this limited timeframe, and somehow he does it. And really all of it is necessary. There’s not a wasted frame in the entire movie. Malcolm X was a very complex guy, and each chapter of his life is like a different orchestral movement. But you see the ways in which they’re interconnected. On top of that, the cinematography is just beautiful. I always think of him traveling to Mecca, and him in that big mosque—those are beautiful shots. I just think that the performances are incredible—Angela Bassett, Denzel Washington, Delroy Lindo. There's not a bad performance in the movie. It is just masterful, as far as I'm concerned. Also the score is beautiful. —Cord Jefferson, nominee for best picture and best adapted screenplay, American Fiction

Harlem Nights (1989)

Harlem Nights is honestly a top-three movie of all time for me in any color (but I do love its Blackness). Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Della Reese, Jasmine Guy, and Arsenio Hall in a movie that’s part 1930s gangster film, part heist movie, and part rom-com. And all directed by Eddie Murphy, who somehow managed to service the performative skill set of all of those incredible actors (including himself!) and all of those genres in under two hours. Thirty-five years later, I still absolutely love that movie from beginning to end. —Jermaine Johnson, nominee for best picture, American Fiction

How to watch: Stream on Paramount+ .

Chameleon Street (1990)

A hilarious satirical biopic inspired by real-life con man and impersonator William Douglas Street. A Sundance breakout in the early ’90s, it was quickly enshrined (and quoted) by me and my peers alongside other great Black-driven films like The Education of Sonny Carson , The Spook Who Sat by the Door , Cooley High , Cornbread, Earl and Me , and Hollywood Shuffle . I held on to a worn VHS copy of the film for years since it was notoriously difficult to find. After its recent reemergence on streaming services like the Criterion Channel, I rewatched it again and found the exploits of its antihero to be as biting, entertaining, and timely as they were the first time I saw it all those years ago. It’s still a classic. —Kemp Powers, nominee for best animated feature film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

How to watch: Stream on Prime Video .

A Place of Our Own (2004)

From Marcus Garvey to Miles Davis to Madame C. J. Walker, documentarian Stanley Nelson has spent a lifetime capturing the African American experience onscreen in all of its humanity. Black history is American history, and films like Freedom Riders and The Murder of Emmett Till are essential to understanding who we are as a country. But one of my favorite films by Nelson is the lesser-known A Place of Our Own. Reaching back to the ’50s, it’s a deeply personal account of how Black middle-class families built enclaves in places like Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard, where, as he puts it, “the world did not look at us and define us solely by race.” It’s a film about family, about legacy, Black joy, and so much more. —Christine Turner, nominee for best documentary short film, The Barber of Little Rock

Not currently available to stream.

Portrait of Jason (1967)

In December 1966, director Shirley Clarke filmed the larger-than-life character Jason Holliday for 12 hours as he spun fascinating, uproarious tales and reminisced about his life as a gay hustler and aspiring cabaret performer. The result is nothing short of entrancing; Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman called Portrait of Jason “the most extraordinary film I’ve seen in my life.” 

How to watch: Stream on the Criterion Channel .

I Am Somebody (1970)

This empathetic short film by Madeleine Anderson, considered the first Black woman documentarian, chronicles a 1969 strike by Black women hospital workers in Charleston. During their 100-day protest for equal pay and union recognition, they faced off with state officials, police, and the National Guard. Anderson said she saw her own challenges in the film industry (mostly white-male dominated, then as now) reflected in their plight. 

How to watch: Stream on Kanopy .

Style Wars (1983)

Hip-hop was only 10 years old when PBS aired Tony Silver’s groundbreaking documentary about the nascent movement. It focused on the thriving graffiti scene of early-1980s New York City, portraying it as a vital outlet for creative expression—a perspective strongly opposed by Mayor Ed Koch and the NYPD. 

How to watch: Stream on Peacock .

Paris Is Burning (1990)

The category is: influential cinema, darlings! Jennie Livingston’s landmark (and, in recent years, controversial ) documentary brought New York City’s ‘80s ballroom culture to the mainstream, highlighting the fierce, tight-knit community of Black and Hispanic gay men, drag queens, and trans people competing to come out on top on fashion runways and in vogueing battles. 

Daughters of the Dust (1991)

Sumptuously shot by cinematographer Arthur Jafa, Julie Dash’s seminal first featur e was the first film by a Black woman to receive a US general theatrical release. (The Library of Congress named it to the National Film Registry in 2004.) It’s a languorous, impressionistic story of three generations of Gullah women living on the Sea Islands off South Carolina in 1902 who struggle to maintain their cultural heritage and folklore all while considering migrating to the mainland—a move sure to further disconnect them from their roots. It was a major influence on Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album Lemonade . 

How to watch: Stream on Kanopy , Mubi , and the Criterion Channel .

Color Adjustment (1992)

With insight and humor, director Marlon Riggs analyzes four decades of racial myths and stereotypes through the eyes of the small screen, from Amos ’n’ Andy to Roots, Good Times, and The Cosby Show . 

How to watch: Stream on Ovid .

The Watermelon Woman (1996)

Cheryl Dunye’s wry classic rom-com follows a version of herself—a lesbian filmmaker living in Philadelphia—who becomes captivated by the Watermelon Woman, an obscure (and fictional) actor whose life story reveals the hidden challenges of race and sexuality in early Hollywood. Blending fake archival footage with everyday scenes of lesbian life, the film, considered a landmark in New Queer Cinema, is inspired by sidelined and overlooked Black actors like Louise Beavers, Hattie McDaniel, and Butterfly McQueen. (Dunye invented the Watermelon Woman because she couldn’t afford archival footage of real-life actors.) 

How to watch: Stream on the Criterion Channel and other platforms.

The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 (2011)

Comprised of newly discovered 16mm footage shot by a team of Swedish filmmakers, director Goran Hugo Olsson’s documentary is a riveting time capsule that looks at the turbulent era of antiwar and Black Power movements from a different perspective. Adding context and notes on the period’s legacy are contemporary interviews from notables like Erykah Badu and Questlove. 

How to watch: Stream on AMC+ .

Hale County This Morning, This Evening (2018)

RaMell Ross’s quiet and intimate nonfiction feature debut followed a decade of observing the community of Hale County, Alabama. A beautiful, humanistic portrait of Black Southern life, it was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary feature. 

How to watch: Rent on Prime Video .

When I Get Home (2019)

Directed by Solange Knowles as a nearly 40-minute film accompaniment to her album of the same name, When I Get Home is an ode to her hometown of Houston following the devastation of 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. It’s an evocative, mesmerizing exploration of origins commingled with Houston’s history and present that proves Knowles to be a truly visionary visual artist, with key contributions from filmmaker Terence Nance and artist Jacolby Satterwhite. 

How to watch: On Apple Music

Time (2020)

Nominated for an Oscar for best documentary, Garrett Bradley’s sweeping, wrenching love story follows entrepreneur and mother Fox Rich’s decades-long fight for the release of her husband from prison. It’s a powerful indictment of the American justice system, beautifully rendered in black and white and incorporating Rich’s home video footage recorded over 18 years. 

Kokomo City (2023)

In Grammy-nominated producer turned filmmaker D. Smith’s eye-opening documentary, four Black trans sex workers in New York and Atlanta bring viewers into their most intimate spaces to tell their own vivid stories, by turns harrowing and hilarious but always starkly, refreshingly candid. 

How to watch: Stream on Showtime .

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  4. Black Water Collection

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  5. Black Water (2007)

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  6. Black Water (2007)

    movie review black water

COMMENTS

  1. Black Water movie review & film summary (2018)

    Reviews Black Water Simon Abrams June 29, 2018 Tweet Now streaming on: Powered by JustWatch Belgian action star Jean-Claude Van Damme returns in "Black Water," a mediocre submarine thriller that only really comes to life when co-star Dolph Lundgren gets to one-up the Muscles from Brussels.

  2. Black Water

    Tomatometer 9 Reviews 26% Audience Score 100+ Ratings Where to watch Black Water Rent/buy Rent/buy Rent/buy Want to see Black Water videos Black Water: Trailer 1 View All Videos Black...

  3. Black Water

    Top Critics All Audience Verified Audience Pete Vonder Haar Village Voice TOP CRITIC Criminal negligence of Dolph is far from Black Water's only sin, but it might be its most egregious. Full...

  4. Black Water (2018)

    4.7 /10 7.3K YOUR RATING Rate Play trailer 1:31 1 Video 36 Photos Action Drama Thriller A deep-cover operative awakens to find himself imprisoned in a CIA black site on a submarine. Director Pasha Patriki Writers Chad Law Tyler W. Konney Richard Switzer Stars Jean-Claude Van Damme Dolph Lundgren Al Sapienza See production info at IMDbPro STREAMING

  5. Black Water (2018 film)

    Budget. $5 million [2] Box office. $7.9 million [3] Black Water is an American action thriller film directed by Pasha Patriki. It stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren in their fifth collaboration, [4] specifically the second time they appear as on-screen allies. [5] The film was released direct-to-video [6] in the US on May 25, 2018.

  6. Black Water (2007 film)

    (May 2022) Black Water is a 2007 Australian horror film written and directed by Andrew Traucki and David Nerlich. The film, an international co-production of Australia and the United Kingdom, is set in the mangrove swamps of northern Australia, and stars Diana Glenn, Maeve Dermody and Andy Rodoreda.

  7. Black Water: Abyss movie review (2020)

    There's a better version of "Black Water: Abyss" that doesn't take itself quite as seriously, but when Traucki's film is focused and no-nonsense, it's just effective enough that fans of this kind of B-movie cinema won't really care. Advertisement Thriller Horror Adventure Brian Tallerico

  8. Black Water

    Tomatometer 20 Reviews 40% Audience Score 2,500+ Ratings You might also like Want to see Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. Black Water Photos See all...

  9. Black Water (2007)

    5.8 /10 16K YOUR RATING Rate Play trailer 2:02 1 Video 38 Photos Adventure Drama Horror A boat tour of a mangrove swamp turns into a fight for survival when a group of people are attacked by a ferocious saltwater crocodile. Directors David Nerlich Andrew Traucki Writers Andrew Traucki David Nerlich Stars Diana Glenn Maeve Dermody Andy Rodoreda

  10. Black Water (2018)

    8/10 Just Sit Back & Enjoy the Action deepfrieddodo 6 October 2020 One for JCVD/80s action fans for sure, but this film really delivered a whole lot more than I was expecting! It's a little slow to begin with, not due to lack of action, but because the storyline takes a little while to develop.

  11. Black Water

    Directed By: Pasha Patriki Written By: Chad Law, Tyler W. Konney, Richard Switzer Black Water Metascore Overwhelming Dislike Based on 5 Critic Reviews 16 User Score Mixed or Average Based on 10 User Ratings 5.5 My Score Hover and click to give a rating Add My Review Where to Watch Prime Video (Subscription required) All Watch Options Top Cast

  12. The True Story Behind Black Water

    By Timothy Donohoo and Ashley Vivian Updated Dec 27, 2023 It may come as a surprise that the Australian horror flick Black Water is actually based on a true and terrifying crocodile attack from 2003. Summary Black Water, a 2007 Australian horror film, was inspired by a crocodile attack in real life.

  13. 'Black Water' Review

    The directing debut for cinematographer Patriki, Black Water lights many sections of the sub as if they were seedy corners of a nightclub, but still fails to produce the claustrophobic,...

  14. [Review] 'Black Water: Abyss' Sinks with Toothless Killer Croc Horror

    August 4, 2020. By. Meagan Navarro. The 2007 killer croc movie Black Water drew inspiration from a true story in which a pregnant woman, her boyfriend, and her sister were terrorized by a ...

  15. Black Water ( 2007 )

    Here I have recapped and explained the ending of the horror movie Black water 2007.Plot: Let Me RecapWhile on vacation Grace, her husband Adam and Grace's y...

  16. Black Water (2007)

    Producer : Michael Robertson. Stars : Diana Glenn, Maeve Dermody, Andy Rodoreda. Review Score: Summary: Three tourists desperately struggle to survive against a killer crocodile when their rowboat overturns in an Australian river. Synopsis : Review: "Black Water" didn't register on my radar when it released directly to DVD in 2008.

  17. [Movie Review] BLACK WATER: ABYSS

    4 [Movie Review] BLACK WATER: ABYSS August 4, 2020 Caitlin Kennedy 0 Courtesy of Screen Media I ask you, is there anything that says "Summer" like a good creature feature? Creature features are the beach reads of the film world. Simple, exciting, and perfect for idle consumption on a hot summer day.

  18. Black Water (2007)

    The twist that secures freedom is a little disappointing, and the dialogue risible. It is the crocodile and the action sequences which save the day and ultimately give the film its purpose. A routine, albeit quite enjoyable, addition to the, " humans stalked by dangerous creature" genre. 4/10.

  19. Black Water

    Black Water Reviews All Critics Top Critics All Audience Verified Audience Andrew F. Peirce The Curb ...the indie-stylings of Black Water help distinguish it as a unique entry in the...

  20. Black Water: Abyss Movie Review

    Violence & Scariness Characters are attacked by dangerous animals, resu Sex, Romance & Nudity Conversations about pregnancy. Couple kiss while f Language Language used includes "arse," "bastard," and vari Products & Purchases Character takes pride in an expensive torch they b Drinking, Drugs & Smoking Characters drink alcohol in pubs in moderation.

  21. Black Water (2007) Review

    Most Popular and Top Rated NEW 2024 horror movie releases here! Reviews: Black Water Review Rated R | Genres Horror , Thriller , Drama, Action, Adventure | Runtime 1h 30m Vote Now! ♡ Fave This Black Water Rating Scores 15,854 votes, 6.94 / 5 rating (138% score) Overall Score: ☆ 6.94 /10 IMDB: ☆ 5.8 /10 Tomatometer: ☆ 8.0 /10 Review Score: ☆ 7 /10

  22. Black Water: Abyss (2020)

    Stars : Jessica McNamee, Luke Mitchell, Amali Golden, Benjamin Hoetjes, Anthony J. Sharpe. Review Score: Summary: A cave exploration adventure turns into a nightmare when rising floodwaters trap five friends underground with a killer crocodile. Synopsis : Show/Hide Spoilers. Review: Big blockbusters get sequels every three years or so. Sleeper ...

  23. Blackwater (2007)

    Blackwater: Directed by Bill Rogers, Bill Schreiber, R. Douglas Zipperer. With Georgia Chris, Amy Simon, McCayne Blomberg, Jenny Robinson. Four young women tourists are hunted by ruthless woodsmen in the Florida Everglades.

  24. The Best Black History Movies, According to This Year's Oscar ...

    With help from a few Academy Award nominees—including Danielle Brooks, Jon Batiste, and Cord Jefferson—Vogue picks 19 Black history films to watch during Black History Month (or any time of year).