The Failure of Blumhouse's NIGHT SWIM (Explored)

January is often a graveyard shift for movies, a time when studios release films they have no confidence in. Yet, in this cinematic wasteland, some horror films have consistently found fertile ground. The trend has given rise to many high-concept thrillers that began their years with a bang.

The previous year's horror-comedy 'M3GAN' set a high bar, and it was with a mix of skepticism and hope that I approached Blumhouse's latest offering, 'Night Swim,' directed and written by Bryce McGuire. The film's quirky premise of an evil swimming pool suggested potential for at least a few laughs if not outright terror. Unfortunately, it proves to be a disappointing addition to the genre, merely paddling in the shallow end of creativity.

The movie features Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon playing Ray and Eve Waller, who, along with their two children Elliot and Izzy move to a suburban home seeking a new start. Ray, a former Major League Baseball player, is grappling with Multiple Sclerosis, a condition that ended his career but brought him closer to his family. While Eve, a school administrator and former Navy brat is determined to establish a safe and normal life amidst the challenging circumstances.

However, their idyllic family existence soon becomes disrupted by eerie experiences around their new in-ground pool, where each family member encounters mysterious and sometimes menacing visions. Despite the promising setup and solid performances from the leads, McGuire's adaptation, an evolution of the short film he originally developed with Rod Blackhurst in 2014 is disappointing.

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[deathdefying]

This film feels like a horror short on YouTube that got dragged out into a feature film

[GDeNofa]

This just shows that it isn't how good the effects and cinematography are but the dedication of the script. Writing will always be the backbone of making memorable, well-told movies.

[aaronk]

This worked as the short film or that one Are You Afraid of the Dark episode. As a story goes though there just isn’t enough for a feature length movie. Also, it makes me think of that youtube sketch, Shark Pool. Where there’s a shark in the pool at a classic late teen party, killing the kids. There’s one logical character that’s like, “just don’t get in the pool!”

[Dina_tankar_mina_ord]

I think Wyatt Russell is going places. He is a very good actor

[Xlopez]

It's funny that you pointed out how the story seemed to be made up on the fly. I've been watching old episodes of Face Off, and he was one of the directors from the season finale and I noticed how he constantly had these big ideas and was changing his mind on how he wanted things to look for just a 2 minute short film. I can't imagine what having someone with no clear vision or a constantly changing one would be like for a feature film.

[kirbymarchbarcena]

Why call it "Night Swim" if the malevolent entity also attacks the swimmers during daytime?

[R.Specktre]

You know haunted swimming pool sounds kind of hokey but then the ancient spring theme made it make sense and I suspended my disbelief(really glad I can do this). Kind of like 80s cheese horror but I enjoyed the movie.

[link]

The amount that this man’s baseball career was made a focal point was actually laughable

[sd]

Only way I became scared with pools was the Are You Afraid of the Dark episode with the pool zombie.... Which this movie felt like it was influenced by.

[StormX]

Blumhouse needs a new hit. They’ve had so many flops lately with Halloween Ends, Exorcist Believer, FNAF, and now this. It’s gotten me worried about the Dead By Daylight movie

[darkron]

You know whats funny i got tickets to see this movie, but unfortunately i got covid before i managed to see the movie... i think i dodged a bullet there

[patricksleep]

This movie felt like a lost meant-to-be Goosebumps episode. It was overall goofy and I got a lot of yawns from it, I see this as a fun drunk night with your group of friends without taking anything seriously. If it tried to scare me it failed to do so lol.

[doctorwyvern]

This kind of reminds me of an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark where a malevolent spirit tries to drown anyone who swims in the school pool because it was built on his grave.

[lL]

Children's shows have done haunted pools better. Obviously nothing is new.

[christianleeperrr]

You always tell it how it is! You don’t overly shit on content which I appreciate, you’re a true YT OG

[callumdent]

By the sounds of it, if they had learnt into the esoteric horror of something like SCP-2316 (you do not recognize the bodies in the water) have the spirit operate more like a general mental infection, it might have been a better story. Maybe have the pool be its source but after it gets awakened it goes on to infect/hunt the entire suburb, anywhere that draws water from the spring. But do understand that would ballon the budget dramatically of a small horror film to focus on one house/family to go to a whole neighborhood.

[grapeshot]

Yeah basically Amityville Horror but swimming pool centered.

[cyberneticghostofchristmas]

I enjoyed the water puns and word play.

[Colejones]

This movie had some good moments and the idea is scary but it definitely didn't use it's full potential with how scary it could be.

[grapeshot]

I don't know why but when I first saw the trailer for this movie it made me think of the swimming pool scene in Aliens versus Predator requiem.