When I first saw Open Water, I was impressed by the plausibility of the situation, the realism of the characters and the horror of dying in a way we can all imagine, but don’t want to.  I suppose it’s only fitting that a sequel should follow the surprising success of the original, and that’s how you get a movie like Open Water 2: Adrift.  The source material, written and directed by Chris Kentis, was an updating of the terror of Jaws, only instead of one big shark coming to eat you, you were on the home turf of many smaller, but still deadly, animals that saw you as lunch.  And dinner.  And maybe a snack after that big thunderstorm.  Open Water 2 casts away the shark-related terror to imagine a different nightmare scenario – rescue awaiting you just out of reach.

Open Water 2 collects six characters, four related by previous friendships, two newly acquired for this journey.  The host, Dan (Eric Dane), has invited old friends together on his yacht for a birthday celebration.  Zach (Niklaus Lange) is still caught up in flirtations with old pal Lauren (Ali Hillis), whereas Amy (Susan May Pratt) introduces new husband James (Supernatural’s Richard Speight, Jr.) into the mix, along with a new child.  Rounding out the crew is Dan’s latest conquest, Michelle (Cameron Richardson), a trophy blonde to accompany his life of excess.

Amy, as it happens, is terrified of the water following a childhood trauma.  While the rest of the gang is swimming in the open ocean, Dan decides it’s time for a little shock therapy and dives over the side with Amy in tow, who wears a life preserver.  Once in the water, Amy freaks, but catches bits and pieces of conversation which informs her (and the viewer) that there is no ladder to return to the boat.  Thus, the crux of the film: six people stranded in the water with the boat that would be their savior drifting amongst them with no way to board it.  Oh, and James and Amy’s baby?  Totally still on board the boat.

Much like the original, Open Water 2 explores what happens to the human psyche when presented with a life or death situation.  Some go slightly mad, contemplating a death by drowning, others hunt for a way back onto the boat and still others find themselves wounded during one struggle or another.  And no character misses an opportunity to say something revealing about their personalities.  Conversations with one another are full of heightened emotion and revelations about their past or present or whatever.  After some time, the over-wrought melodrama begins to detract from the survival thriller that Open Water 2 is poised to be, but is far too often so clearly written that it’s hard to get on board, so to speak, with these characters.  And poor Richard Speight, Jr. is the only character who is both likable and not possessing of an enormous phobia or flaw.  His wit shines through, and, if you’re a closet fan of his, he might make Open Water 2 worth the viewing.

Sadly, this is a movie that might have survived on its own merits as a different sort of movie, but the shark-induced fear, clever dialogue and intensity that the first film possessed is so noticeably, frustratingly absent here, I have to warn you away from this one.  The shots of people slowly submerging into the Stygian depths of the ocean, the ham-fisted personality conflicts, the occasionally cringe-worthy performances… nothing adds up to a viewing here.  Unless you are, of course, stranded at sea with only this to view, I would recommend Open Water 2 get sent to Davey Jones’ Locker and you spend your precious time with the more compelling original.

wrought melodrama begins to detract from the survival thriller that Open Water 2 is poised to be, but is far too often so clearly written that it’s hard to get on board, so to speak, with these characters.  And poor Richard Speight, Jr. is the only character who is both likable and not possessing of an enormous phobia or flaw.  His wit shines through, and, if you’re a closet fan of his, he might make Open Water 2 worth the viewing.

Sadly, this is a movie that might have survived on its own merits as a different sort of movie, but the shark-induced fear, clever dialogue and intensity that the first film possessed is so noticeably, frustratingly absent here, I have to warn you away from this one.  The shots of people slowly submerging into the Stygian depths of the ocean, the ham-fisted personality conflicts, the occasionally cringe-worthy performances… nothing adds up to a viewing here.  Unless you are, of course, stranded at sea with only this to view, I would recommend Open Water 2 get sent to Davey Jones’ Locker and you spend your precious time with the more compelling original.

you spend your precious time with the more compelling original.