Judul : Night Swim
Genre : Supranatural Horror
Tanggal rilis : 4 Januari 2024
Sutradara : Bryce McGuire
Produser : James Wan dan Jason Blum
SINOPSIS
Night Swim adalah film horror supranatural dari Amerika serikat yang tayang pada tahun 2024. Menurut Wikipedia, sebelum menjadi film layar lebar "Night Swim" pernah ditulis dan disutradarai oleh McGuire dan Rod Blackhurst di film pendek pada tahun 2014.
Cerita Night Swim bermula saat mantan atlet bisbol Ray Waller dan istrinya Eve Waller memutuskan membeli rumah untuk memulai hidup baru setelah Ray Waller mengidap penyakit degeneratif. Tidak hanya Ray dan Eve, tapi kedua anaknya Izzy Waller dan Elliot Waller pun mau tidak mau harus beradaptasi dengan lingkungan baru lagi setelah beberapa kali pindah rumah.
Pada perjalanan pulang memeriksa calon rumah, mereka melihat rumah kosong lain diperjalanan pulang. Rumah yang luas dan cukup terawat membuat keduanya tertarik untuk melihat-lihat kedalamnya. Setelah di cek ternyata rumah itu memiliki kolam renang di belakang rumah sehingga menjadi nilai lebih, dan pada akhirnya mereka pun memutuskan untuk membeli rumah itu. Namun belum juga menempati rumahnya, teror bahkan sudah dimulai. Yang mana target pertamanya adalah Ray.
Awalnya Ray dan Eve memilih rumah itu dengan harapan Izzy dan Elliot akan dengan mudah mendapat teman karena bisa mengajak teman-temannya bermain di kolam, namun seiring berjalannya waktu Ray menjadikan kolam renang itu sebagai media terapi untuk kakinya.
Tidak ada keanehan sebelumnya, sampai akhirnya Ray menyadari bahwa sesuatu yang ganjal terjadi pada tubuhnya setelah berenang disana, dimana kakinya pulih dengan cepat sehingga membuat obsesi kecil pada kolam renang itu tumbuh pada diri Ray. Namun berbeda dengan Ray Waller, Eve dan kedua anaknya justru mulai merasakan teror-teror misterius setiap kali berenang di kolam itu.
Kira-kira teror apa dan kenapa mereka di teror ya?
Review
Untuk adegan awal yang aku lihat di film Night Swim ini tidak berbeda dengan film-film horror biasanya dimana ada keluarga kecil yang mencari rumah baru untuk memulai hidup baru, namun rumah yang dipilih memiliki misteri yang akhirnya menghantui mereka semua. Namun latar belakang para tokoh di Night Swim inilah yang membedakan dengan film lainnya yang pernah aku tonton. Terlebih objek disini bukanlah rumah melainkan kolam renang di rumah itu.
Sesuai dengan judulnya 'Night Swim'.
To the point. Kalau aku biasanya harus sibuk menebak-nebak lebih dulu tentang kejadian apa yang sebelumnya terjadi hingga menimbulkan teror, Night Swim justru membeberkannya di awal film. Begitu pula dengan teror apa saja yang mengintai sehingga merenggut nyawa orang yang berenang di malam hari.
Di awal cerita aku disuguhkan tentang kisah seorang gadis kecil bernama Rebecca yang tinggal bersama saudara dan ibunya. Pada suatu malam Rebecca menghampiri saudaranya yang memang sakit-sakitan untuk menawarkan bantuan mencari mainan perahunya yang hilang di kolam renang, setelah melihat respon saudaranya akhirnya Rebecca memutuskan untuk mencari mainan perahu itu. Namun sayang dia terjatuh dan makhluk air itu mengambil nyawanya.
Secara keseluruhan Night Swim bukanlah film yang membuat aku mencari-cari apa latar belakang teror, melainkan penyebab teror itu harus muncul. Scene demi scene Night Swim disajikan dengan suasana menegangkan yang cukup dan hanya berfokus pada satu titik. Jumpscare yang disuguhkan pun masih bisa diterima oleh jantungku yang kagetan ini hahaa.
Menurutku film Night Swim ini memiliki porsi kisah horor dan kekeluargaan yang imbang. Karena mengusut tema keluarga yang saling mendukung satu sama lain. Interaksi Izzy dan Elliot juga dibuat realistis menurutku, tidak melulu bertengkar dan dipaksa akur oleh keadaan seram, tidak juga terlalu akur yang menghilangkan ciri khas kakak dan adik.
Izzy Waller yang diperankan oleh Amelie Hoeferle ini memiliki sifat yang cukup bisa bergaul dan beradaptasi cepat. Namun hati-hati dan pemikir secara bersamaan. Berbeda dengan Elliot Waller yang diperankan oleh Gavin Warren yang memiliki sifat pemurung, minder, takut mencoba hal baru, namun memiliki jiwa perasa. Tapi jangan salah, karena sebenarnya Elliot juga memiliki rasa ingin tahu yang tinggi dan pintar. Elliot hanya butuh didampingi oleh ibunya yang selalu memberinya semangat.
Ada beberapa pertanyaan yang mengganjal pikiranku setelah selesai menonton Night Swim, diantaranya adalah kenapa 'dia' dijadikan target dan siapa makhluk itu? Bagaimana nasib akhir arwah para korban? Apa keluarga sebelumnya sebenarnya terlibat?
Secara keseluruhan dari segi cerita menurutku Night Swim ini masih bisa dikembangkan lagi terutama dibagian plot twist-nya. Menurutku kalau memang film ini tidak akan ada lanjutannya, daripada tidak ada sama sekali lebih baik kejadian di awal film itu disimpan di akhir saja, kecuali kalau memang akan ada lanjutannya. Tipikal film horror yang masih bisa ditonton sendirian.
Berbeda dengan ceritanya, segi tokoh dan acting para aktor menurutku sudah bagus. Apalagi disini Ray (Wyatt Russell) dan Eve (Kerry Condon) sweet banget! terutama Eve. Tipikal pasangan yang positif, pengertian, setia dan selalu memberi semangat pada Ray yang hampir kehilangan semangat hidupnya. Ray juga tidak kalah kerennya, dia punya semangat tinggi untuk sembuh dan rela berkorban apa pun demi keluarga kecilnya.
Oke, sekian review film Night Swim dariku. Rating 3/5 untuk Night Swim.
Yang akan menonton film-nya, happy watching ya!
SYNOPSIS
Night Swim is a supernatural horror film from the United States which will be released in 2024. According to Wikipedia , before becoming a feature film "Night Swim" was written and directed by McGuire and Rod Blackhurst in a short film in 2014.
The story of Night Swim begins when former baseball athlete Ray Waller and his wife Eve Waller decide to buy a house to start a new life after Ray Waller suffers from a degenerative disease. Not only Ray and Eve, but their two children, Izzy Waller and Elliot Waller, inevitably had to adapt to a new environment after moving houses several times.
On their way home to check out prospective houses, they saw another empty house on the way home. The house is spacious and well maintained, making both of them interested in looking inside. After checking, it turned out that the house had a swimming pool behind the house, so it added value, and in the end they decided to buy the house. But before he had occupied his house, the terror had already begun. The first target is Ray.
Initially Ray and Eve chose that house in the hope that Izzy and Elliot would easily make friends because they could invite their friends to play in the pool, but as time went by Ray used the swimming pool as a therapy medium for his feet.
There was nothing strange before, until finally Ray realized that something strange had happened to his body after swimming there, where his legs recovered quickly, making a small obsession with the swimming pool grow in Ray. However, unlike Ray Waller, Eve and her two children began to feel mysterious terrors every time they swam in the pool.
What terror do you think they are and why are they being terrorized?
Review
The initial scene that I saw in the film Night Swim is no different from usual horror films where there is a small family looking for a new house to start a new life, but the house chosen has a mystery that ultimately haunts them all. However, the background of the characters in Night Swim is what differentiates it from other films I have ever watched. Moreover, the object here is not the house but the swimming pool in the house.
As the title suggests 'Night Swim'.
To the point. If I usually have to be busy guessing first about what events previously happened to cause terror, Night Swim actually reveals it at the beginning of the film. Likewise with any terror that lurks and takes the lives of people who swim at night.
At the beginning of the story I was presented with the story of a little girl named Rebecca who lives with her siblings and mother. One night, Rebecca approached her sister, who was sick, to offer help looking for her lost toy boat in the swimming pool. After seeing her sister's response, Rebecca finally decided to look for the toy boat. But unfortunately he fell and the water creature took his life.
Overall, Night Swim is not a film that makes me look for the background of the terror, but rather the cause of the terror that must appear. Scene after scene of Night Swim is presented with quite a tense atmosphere and only focuses on one point. The jumpscare that was presented was still acceptable to my shocked heart hahaa.
In my opinion, the film Night Swim has an equal portion of horror and family stories. Because it explores the theme of families supporting each other. Izzy and Elliot's interactions are also made realistic in my opinion, they don't always have to fight and are forced to get along due to scary circumstances, they don't get along too well which eliminates the characteristics of a brother and sister.
Izzy Waller, played by Amelie Hoeferle, is quite sociable and adapts quickly. But be careful and thoughtful at the same time. In contrast to Elliot Waller, played by Gavin Warren , who is gloomy, insecure, afraid to try new things, but has a feeling soul. But don't be mistaken, because actually Elliot also has high curiosity and is smart. Elliot only needs to be accompanied by his mother who always gives him encouragement.
There were several questions that plagued my mind after finishing watching Night Swim, including why 'he' was the target and who was that creature? What is the final fate of the victims' spirits? Was his previous family actually involved?
Overall, in terms of story, I think Night Swim can still be developed further, especially in the plot twist section. In my opinion, if this film really won't have a sequel, rather than not having it at all, it would be better to save the events at the beginning of the film for the end, unless there will be a sequel. A typical horror film that can still be watched alone.
In contrast to the story, I think the characters and acting of the actors are good. Especially here Ray ( Wyatt Russell ) and Eve ( Kerry Condon ) are really sweet! especially Eve. A typical partner who is positive, understanding, loyal and always encourages Ray, who almost loses his enthusiasm for life. Ray is no less cool, he has a high enthusiasm for recovery and is willing to make any sacrifice for his little family.
OK, that's my review of the Night Swim film. Rating 3/5 for Night Swim.
Those who will watch the film, happy watching!