NIGHT SWIM is a haunted pool movie. That’s all I really need to say in this review. If the concept of a haunted pool sounds dumb and a waste of time to you, then that is exactly what this will probably be. If the concept sounds dumb, but strokes the fun horror genre movie curiosity in you, then give NIGHT SWIM a lap.
You will notice that dumb is the common denominator in my description. And maybe that’s not fair. Maybe there is a legit haunting or possession pool movie that could exist. This is not it though. So it really depends on mindset and your horror movie fandom. I did not hate NIGHT SWIM, but still thought it straddled that buoy rope divider of possibly being much better or much worse.
The Walker family is looking for a new home in a suburban life. They come across a beautiful place that seems to be a perfect fit for their family of four inside a great school district. Plus, it has a pool! Ray has a recent leg injury that has pulled him from his pro baseball career. This is a new adjustment and new life for the Walker family, but doctors say the pool should be good physical therapy. Little do they know, something is very strange about this pool. But the audience knows because the film opens up with a pool haunting the previous homeowner’s children.
Writer and director Bryce McGuire is competent in setting scenes and characters. I like the Walker family and I believe in all their individual trials and desires. Throughout the film, there are some decent horror components that catch the audience off guard with a startling image or two. And a fun pool party sequence that captures the joy of neighbors and kids interacting, while adding a bit of tension. But NIGHT SWIM just doesn’t have enough in any category to capitalize fully on the type of horror movie it needs to be.
The actors are great. I’ve been a fan of Wyatt Russell since EVERYBODY WANTS SOME. Amelie Hoeferle and Gavin Warren are terrific in their respective older sister younger brother kid roles. But Kerry Condon (fresh off her Oscar-nomination in THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN) is excellent as the strong but worried wife and mother. I didn’t even realize it was her at first because she traded her Irish accent for an American one so effortlessly.
I love the idea of simple, odd, silly, B-movie tropes. Or running the functionality of a structured genre horror film that gets a little inventive with its creativity. But NIGHT SWIM doesn’t take the big swings, which ultimately becomes more of a forgettable bore. Attempting an over-the-top route in an EVIL DEAD vein or just hitting a bit more scares without falling into a water hole of over-explaining what and why the haunting is happening. Just let the insanity fly without explanation. But with PG-13 rating and a brisk 98 minute runtime, NIGHT SWIM has a small place for a young teen crowd and easy-going horror genre lovers.
