Is Night Swim Worth the Dip? Sydney S. Weighs In
3The film Night Swim is mediocre. It does its job as a horror movie but doesn’t dive into the plot. A lot of scenes are questionable. However, I am satisfied with the frightening scenes.
The story follows a family moving into a new house, with hopes that a pool will provide physical therapy for the father who used to be in pro baseball. They are unaware of the horrible evil the pool holds until it’s too late.
The main characters are the Waller family, which include Ray (Wyatt Russell), Eve (Kerry Condon), Izzy (Amélie Hoeferle), and Elliot (Gavin Warren). The plot revolves around Ray’s past as a professional baseball player. The only thing he wants is to get back into the sport. That’s the only real backstory in the film. The story has many holes and questions left unanswered. It doesn’t have much of an interesting plot. Night Swim is produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, who also produced M3GAN. They have the horror aspect included, but not an involved storyline. On the other hand, I like the various angles used in the film. It broadens the viewer’s perspective. I especially love how when the spirit tries to take a victim, it seems like they're underneath the pool in deep, dark water.
Music is an important part of a horror movie, and there is definitely scary music. Loud sounds create jumpscares that make my heart stop. The lighting also plays a dramatic role in keeping the scenes spooky. I could tell when something bad is going to happen when the lights dim and eerie music begins to play. My favorite part of the film is when Ray steps up to the batting plate for the first time in years. After two strikes, he hits the ball with such strength that the ball breaks and hits the stadium lights. He didn’t know he had it in him—that’s probably because the evil spirit is beginning to control him.
The message of the film is that sometimes love and sacrifice go hand in hand. It also reminds the audience to not let the past control you. Ray’s baseball history meant everything to him, but he eventually learns that his family means so much more. A reminder that this is a horror movie and it’s not intended for children. There are gory scenes and jumpscares.
I give Night Swim 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Night Swim comes out in theaters January 5, 2024.
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