BLACK WATER: ABYSS

Directed by: Andrew Traucki

Starring: Jessica McNamee, Luke Mitchell, Amali Golden, Anthony J Sharp, Benjamin Hoetjes

Whilst searching for two missing Japanese Bush walkers, Cash comes across a hitherto undiscovered cave system and invites his friend Eric to Queensland to investigate. As the pair and three other friends - Eric's girlfriend Jennifer, their friend Yolanda and her boyfriend Viktor - start to explore the caves they discover to their amazement a large underwater cave pool. However disaster suddenly strikes - a heavy downpour has lead to the cave starting to flood, cutting off their exit. Not only that but they are no longer alone in the cave: a large crocodile is now hunting them…

Director Andrew Traucki is no stranger to creature features, having already delivered the original Black Water (2007) and The Reef (2010). Black Water: Abyss could be his most assured film to date, as he gives us a "trapped underground" movie with added crocodile!

Thankfully, this film does not start in media res, instead it shows us the fate of two unrelated characters, the Japanese tourists who meet their fate when they fall into the cave. It lets the audience know exactly what to expect without spoiling anything. 

We then move onto introducing our group of protagonists. Straight away we can see that there are possibly cracks in Eric and Jennifer's relationship as she is introduced sat on the toilet taking a peek through Eric's smartphone. Later she confesses to Yolanda that she feels Eric has one foot out of the relationship. Meanwhile Yolanda confides that she is pregnant but hasn't told Viktor just yet.

Things start off fine for the group although Eric is dismissive of a weatherfront, convinced its going to miss them. However as they descend into the hole, we can see the storm clouds starting to form in the sky…Nevertheless the group are in good spirits by the time they reach a large, partially submerged cavern.  And then disaster strikes as a sudden surge of water knocks them off their feet. They realise that the water level in the cavern is starting to rise…and then they learn the hard way that they are not so alone…

The script, by John Ridley and Sara Smith, does a good job of separating the group and providing them with different challenges to face whilst trying to avoid being eaten. The characters are reasonably well rounded adventurous types and mostly keep a level head in a crisis, and are able to try and solutionise their predicament. I have a feeling that there was perhaps more relationship drama in the original script but that it was pared down so that it didn't distract so much and that the threat of being eaten was enough to deal with.

Director Andrew Traucki knows that "less is more" and is able to ramp up the tension by deliberately not showing us the crocodile. We never know when the croc is close by, so every time someone has to enter the water the audience is literally holding its breath wondering if the croc is going to strike. Instead we have to deal with little splashes or disturbances on the surface. When it does attack though, the special fx work is really good and very life-like (the only time it's authenticity comes into question is when we see it swimming on the surface).

THE VERDICT

When the original Black Water was released it was overshadowed somewhat by the more exciting and bigger budgeted Rogue, another Australian killer croc movie. Whilst we have recently been thrilled by the slick CRAWL, however, Black Water: Abyss can definitely stand shoulder-to-shoulder with that film. This is a slick, taut thriller which definitely delivers.

8 out of 10 RECOMMENDED

MikeOutWest