Dead Calm (1989)
Genre: Thriller / Drama
Duration: 96 minuten
Country:
Australia
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill and Billy Zane
IMDb score:
6,8 (49.411)
Releasedate: 7 April 1989
Dead Calm plot
"High seas. Deep terror. Try to stay calm."
John Ingram and his younger wife Rae set out on their yacht to deal with the death of their son in peace. In the middle of the ocean, a young man in a rowboat suddenly approaches them, claiming to be the sole survivor of an acute case of food poisoning aboard another ship. When John goes to view the ship in question, it soon becomes clear to him that the corpses aboard the battered Orpheus met their end in a very different way. A disturbing discovery, especially when he realizes that he is trapped on the sinking ship and also sees his own yacht sailing away with the stranger at the helm...
Actors and actresses
Rae Ingram
John Ingram
Hughie Warriner
Doctor
Russell Bellows
Danny
Specialist Doctor
'Orpheus' Cruise Girl
'Orpheus' Cruise Girl
'Orpheus' Cruise Girl
Reviews & comments
Lovelyboy
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- 4222 messages
- 3173 votes
Saw it a long time ago and then remembered it as a pretty exciting film with an impressive psychopath. The question then is whether the film still gives the same impression decades later. And yes, he didn't disappoint.
The film is carried by three actors, of which Neill is just about the most stoic, despite everything that happens to him. It is mainly Kidman and Zane who played very good roles and especially the unpredictable psychopath that Zane plays. A role by the way that I have always linked to him and whenever I see that tronie, the thought automatically comes to mind; there you have that horrible figure too.
In itself there are some things to criticize. Why does Neill leave his wife with someone he doesn't trust? Things with the boat like that one is sailing, which of course creates a bow wave, a scene later the boat is still in the water while the engine is a fraction off, so special. Why isn't she a little smarter about hiding that motorcycle key? Why doesn't she grab that gun sooner? Why is Neill with his boat in a bad storm when there is nothing to see from the other boat? Why is Zane sweating in that initial phase, on more than one occasion, while Neill and Kidman apparently don't feel warm with long pants and shirts...?
Well, it doesn't matter that much. It's more about the psychological joust. Kidman who fights for her life, and as a panicky woman yet develops the mental toughness to play him, injure him and turn the boat around. The interplay between the two is good and at the same time unpredictable, what's next? Neill's battle on the other ship is also more than fine, well framed and suspenseful. All this to an excellent end with a nerve-racking denouement. Yes, Dead Calm still performs well despite its age and guarantees a great evening of sensation.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Boneka
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- 2830 messages
- 1415 votes
Seen a long time ago and will always stick with you. Now I have that anyway with boat movies, but I always wanted to see this one again. That is not easy, because old films are only sparsely put on blu ray and then you can hope that they include Dutch subs. Unfortunately I didn't have the latter, but the English subs are fine with this beautiful blu ray transfer. And yes, that's how you learn some words like Arf. Well, I don't think there is an English translation for that at all, but I understand that it means something like imitating a dog. At least the barking. Some kind of bark imitation.
Dead Calm is basically only about 3 people. As far as I'm concerned, the front piece could have been completely removed. It doesn't really matter why they choose a nice sunny boat trip. That could also have been told on board. Well, we're on that very quickly. The plot is simple one encounters a boat that is bobbing. Some kind of ghost boat. Strangely enough, the owner himself goes to their boat with a sloop and then things quickly go wrong. It is certainly exciting and I especially liked the moments of the two boats. How does it end with the so-called ghost boat and their own boat. There are, of course, some weird aspects to the film. The beautiful Nicole Kidman could have killed her assailant 10 times already, but then the film will soon be over. Yet it remains a fine thriller that is especially well played by Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill. I'm going to be admiring Billy Zane in another movie soon. He is also known for Titanic.
The image is generally very beautiful. Sleek clear and good use of color. Only inside is some noise to be seen. Especially with the somewhat dark scenes or the brown wood of the boat. But I have not seen any other irregularities. Stain-free. Sound is good music, even if strange soundtracks come along.
Movie 3.5
Image 4.0 (Blu Ray)
Sound 4.0
Translated from Dutch · View original
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