by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Is the combination (and now single company) of Blumhouse and Atomic Monster trying to take back January? Let the jokes flow, from “Endless Trash!” to “F–k You, It’s January!” But last January was a bit of a different story, with a few films surprising audiences and critics. That trend started with the usual release strategy of dropping a horror film in that first weekend slot, where M3GAN took the world by storm, especially on TikTok.
But can Bryce McGuire and his new horror film, Night Swim, continue the trend? McGuire and his writing partner, Rod Blackhurst, adapt their own 2014 short into a feature-length tale of a perpetually moving family who finds a real home this time. But unfortunately, that home just so happens to have a haunted pool. Then begins The Amityville Pool! McGuire and Blackhurst do a fine job of fleshing out the scenario, as the husband (Wyatt Russell) is a baseball player who has been broken down by multiple sclerosis. He finds new life in this pool, but it unfortunately haunts his wife (Kerry Condon), daughter (Amélie Hoeferle), and son (Gavin Warren). There is plenty of potential in the film, and a big part of that is the family feeling real, allowing you to care and connect to them.
What is lacking in the script department that holds this one back? First off, much of the dialogue is clunky and awkward. There are scenes where it even looks like the actors are struggling to make the most of it. So many of the film’s themes and ideas are bluntly smacked in the audience’s face that it gets obnoxious after a while. That is a shame, because the film tries to tackle meaningful topics, like family, sacrifice, and perseverance. But the dialogue is not the only problem. There are so many convenient occurrences that are only there to get to specifically staged scares or emotional moments that make little sense. The story even leans on the terrible “go to one random character for the full explanation of the film’s mystery” trope, and it is extra clunky in this film.
What about the actual horror in this horror film? The biggest strength is the leverage of the setting. This haunted pool opens the door for interesting shots, camera angles, and visuals that stand out compared to other films. McGuire and his cinematographer, Charlie Sarroff, had a lot of fun coming up with the most interesting scares and moments they could. McGuire creates some solid tension along the way, as well. But that is all empty calories, because when the scares come, they feel anticlimactic and not scary. There are even some emotional and scary moments that are so tonally off that they will have the audience laughing when they shouldn’t be. There are a few funny moments that give the film some levity, but they should not undercut the scares that anchor the film.
Despite some clunky shackles attached to them, does the cast rise to the occasion? Russell does a fine job of being charismatic, but there is one climactic moment undercut by his line delivery, and once we reach the big third act, he’s more of a hollow presence than he should be. Condon does a great job selling why we can talk about this couple and family in general, and that is big praise for her as an actress. Her accent, though, is suspect as you can hear her Irish seeping out throughout the film. The two child actors are serviceable, but they really shine when they get to be scared kids’. Throw in one or two fun performances from comic relief characters, and you have a solid cast at least.
Does Night Swim continue the trend that Blumhouse and Atomic Monster are trying to set? Unfortunately, it is a big step down for them — it feels much more like a clunky and ineffective horror film than you would usually expect from the first weekend of January. It will probably get some horror fans into the theater opening weekend, but it will most certainly not be getting the buzz you would hope. Let’s see if M3GAN 2 can recapture that new January spark a year from now.
Rating: Didn’t Like It
Night Swim is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram, and Letterboxd