Is Open Water Based On True Story? Ending Explained and More
by Ushapriyanga | Updated Apr 12, 2023
Open Water Movie Info
The movie "Open Water" was directed by Chris Kentis and produced by Laura Lau and Estelle Lau. The couple, both passionate scuba divers, financed the film which had a production cost of $120,000. After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Lions Gate Entertainment purchased the rights for $2.5 million and spent an additional $8 million on advertising and distribution. The film went on to earn $55.5 million globally, with $30 million coming from North America.
In the 2003 survival horror thriller "Open Water," an American couple on vacation goes scuba diving but is inadvertently abandoned in shark-infested waters miles away from the shore by the crew of their boat, leading to their struggle for survival. "Open Water" draws inspiration from the real-life account of Tom and Eileen Lonergan, who joined a scuba diving group, Outer Edge Dive Company, on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998.
Is Open Water Based on True Story?
The 2003 film "Open Water" was actually based on a real-life incident that occurred in Australia back in 1998. The story revolves around Tom and Eileen Lonergan, who were left stranded in shark-infested waters when their tour guide miscounted the number of people in their scuba diving group. Despite efforts by search parties and the police, the couple was never found. Interestingly, the filmmakers Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, who are both experienced scuba divers themselves, were also left behind during one of their dives, and Lau has described the experience as truly terrifying.
It turns out that the film crew also had their fair share of challenges while filming with the sharks, with Danie Travis reporting that there were actually around 50 sharks in the water during the shoot. With a budget of just $120,000 and 120 hours spent filming in the water, it's no wonder that "Open Water" is considered a classic example of low-budget filmmaking.
Open Water Ending Explained
In the movie, Susan and Daniel got stranded in the sea. At first, they held on to the hope that someone would notice they were missing, but as time passed, it became clear that no one was coming to their rescue. They had a chance to escape when boats came into view, but they didn't want to move too far away from their own boat. As they drifted further and further, danger started lurking around them in the form of sharks.
Despite having a knife, they were still at risk. One night, a storm hit, and the sharks came back to attack. Unfortunately, Daniel was bitten and didn't survive. Susan was left alone to drift with his body but eventually had to let go. The sharks were waiting and ready to pounce. It's a harrowing story of survival and loss that makes one wonder how they would fare in such a situation.
Open Water Plot
Daniel Kintner and Susan Watkins turned into a nightmare. While scuba-diving with a group of 20 passengers, they decided to separate from the group briefly, only to resurface and find that the boat had left them behind. As they wait for rescue, they battle hunger, exhaustion, and the realization that they may have drifted too far from the dive site. But that's not all; sharks have been circling them, and they soon discover that jellyfish are stinging them as well.
Susan is bitten by a small shark on her leg, while Daniel is attacked and starts to bleed profusely. With no help in sight, Susan tries to save Daniel by using her weight belt to apply pressure to his wound. Unfortunately, Daniel goes into shock and dies during a storm when sharks attack him. Susan is left alone and desperate for rescue, but it seems like her fate is sealed as sharks circle around her. She finally comes to terms with the situation and releases Daniel's body into the water, where the sharks attack it in a frenzy.
After looking around for any sign of help, Susan removes her scuba gear and drowns herself before the sharks can attack her. Meanwhile, a fishing crew discovers a diving camera in the stomach of a newly caught shark and wonders if it still works. It's a tragic and haunting story of survival and loss in the open sea.
Is Open Water Based on True Story - FAQs
The film tells the story of a couple, Daniel and Susan, who are accidentally left stranded in the middle of the ocean during a scuba diving trip. They struggle to survive as they battle hunger, thirst, and shark attacks while hoping to be rescued.
No, the movie is not based on a true story. It is an adaptation of Koji Suzuki's short story Adrift, a work of fiction.
Daniel and Susan are stranded in the ocean and left behind by their boat. They struggle to survive, but Daniel is eventually attacked and killed by sharks. Susan chooses to drown herself rather than be eaten alive by the sharks.
The tone of the movie is suspenseful, intense, and dramatic, as the couple struggles to survive in a desperate situation with seemingly no hope of rescue.