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Terry's
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Written
& Directed by David Nerlich & Andrew Traucki
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You could take the two HOSTEL films and combine them with the four SAW films and they still wouldn't be as suspenseful as this little gem of a film. Some people have compared this film to OPEN WATER but this is superior in every way. Based on true events that took place in Australia, Andrew Traucki and David Nerlich have masterfully crafted a screenplay and directed a film that is incredibly intense. BLACK WATER is focused on five characters who get trapped in a mangrove when a crocodile flips their boat while on a guided tour of the beautiful waterway lined with trees and not much else. What helps establish the super high tension is we learn about the crocodiles when the trio visits a crocodile park before going on this leisure boat ride. What happens unfolds in a totally realistic manner with the actors all giving completely realistic performances and the film is shot and scored in such a way you will be riveted to the edge of your seat. FX are minimal and when the crocodile is show in the film, it is done with incredible restraint that it produces a megaton of power because the imagery is so unforgettable. The filmmakers have ingeniously incorporated real crocodiles whenever the crocs are shown in the film. But they wisely don't focus on showing them but like Spielberg did in JAWS, they build tension by making you think of the crocodile without showing it. I wasn't surprised to see that David Nerlich & Andrew Traucki weren't filmmakers in the twenties. These two guys made a film too mature with a focus on characterization and atmosphere and their style is more along the likes of the great filmmakers of the 70s. I loved everything these two guys did to make this film work. THE MAKING OF BLACK WATER is 23 minutes reveals info on this minor classic. It was surprising to see how close the film was shot to a major city, it just goes to show you it doesn't matter what's outside of the movie frame. Nerlich and Traucki also provide an Audio Commentary which is another great way to learn how these guys pulled off this little masterpiece.
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