For an
entertaining horror film, you need a clever concept and creative execution.
While The Drownsman seems born out of
a unique idea, the way in which the plot unfolds is never convincing due to the
filmmaker’s inability to think through the various elements. The end result
feels like an uneven collection of contrived moments borrowed from better
films, along with generic performances from the bevy of attractive and
unconvincing co-ed cast members. All of this would make little difference if
the horror aspects of the film worked, but rules change from scene to scene and
the film is as void of logic as it is decent supporting cast members.
A horror movie
can stretch the limits of believability, just so long as it obeys its own
established rules. This allows us to believe that Freddy Krueger can kill
within a dream, or that death can seek justice in the Final Destination films, both franchises that The Drownsman appears to be borrowing liberally from. The problem
with this newly invented water-based killer is the lack of consistency within
the established rules of the horror film. It changes from sequence to sequence,
depending on what the scene appears to need in order to keep the suspense
going, and yet somehow the film still ends up feeling one-note for the entire
86-minute running time.
Beginning with a
somewhat comical accident which results in the near drowning of our
protagonist, Madison (Michelle Mylett), the film jumps ahead in time to show us
that this incident has left her with a crippling paranoia that something will
kill her if she uses water. This irrational fear prevents Madison
At first we are
simply led to believe that water works as a portal of sorts, allowing the
grotesque looking man known as ‘The Drownsman’ to pull unsuspecting girls into
his underworld lair of torture. This provides very simple and established rules
which require the complete avoidance of water, a task difficult enough that
they could have creatively used it throughout the full running time. Instead,
halfway through the movie this is abandoned for a silly switch that allows ‘The
Drownsman’ to create water where there should be none. An elevator ride becomes
a contrived sequence of dread that makes little sense when water appears out of
nowhere to flood the cramped quarters. If the villain is capable of doing this,
can’t he simply create water wherever the girls are? You might as well give
Freddy Krueger the ability to make his victims fall asleep.
There is also
little logic used when trying to dispatch the monster. First attempts at
striking back involve fire as the sole weapon. Though water may be an option
for destroying a fire monster, I can’t quite understand the logic of the reversal.
Yet, even with the ever-changing rules and illogical twists of the narrative, The Drownsman is often still terribly
dull due to the interchangeable cast of female characters and less than stellar
performances from the actresses cast in the roles. Aspects of the film such as
the high definition digital cinematography are occasionally pleasing, though
there are just as many technical flaws to destroy any strengths in filmmaking.
For one thing, the sound levels are off near the end of the film, so that the
screams of terror blow out the speakers with horrendous distortion. Worse than
being bad filmmaking, this is unforgivably bad for my sound system.
Entertainment Value:
2.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 3/10
Historical
Significance: 1/10
Special Features: 0/10
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