Phil Volken’s Dead Sea sets out to combine crime and horror but ends up lost in a vague story with poorly executed elements. The film is packed with failingly predictable events, undeveloped characters, and a dull environment that fails to create any suspense, in spite of its interesting premise. Although there’s a fairly solid cast headlined by Dean Cameron and Isabel Gravitt, they are ineffective in boosting this film’s failing attributes.
Kaya (Isabel Gravitt) and her friends, Xander (Koa Tom) and Julian (Garrett Wareing), are introduced to us as participants of an enjoyable jet ski trip in the film’s introduction. Things take a turn for the worse as they suffer a tragic accident and end up alone in the ocean with no hope. However as it gets worse, they are saved by Curtis Hunt (Dean Cameron) the captain of a fishing trawler which seems to put them in better spirits. Although, this isn’t the rescue that it seems and the friends soon learn that the ship does not come without its own skeletons in the cupboard.
The film’s premise, if not particularly original, is at least promising. The combination of the isolation of the open sea and the cramped space of the boat could have made for a great setting. However, Dead Sea does not do a great job in establishing or keeping tension. The story moves along without much development, surprises, or even scares. As soon as those friends set foot onto the trailer, one knows where the story is heading and the movement of the film never strives to differ from that structure.
In my view, the most interesting chance to witness Curtis Hunt’s character was hardly a good actor in Dean Cameron, this might be the most impressive feature within the whole film. He does bring a somewhat threatening presence into the role, even though his character does not really go beyond a cliche antagonist. Isabel Gravitt as Kaya manages to give a good account of herself as she has a fair bit of inventive as well as gutsy moments. But still, her character as well as those of her companions are very shallow and hence, their problems drag out viewer’s sympathy rather feebly.
Another matter that stands out as a problem in Dead Sea is the development of its characters, more specifically the absence of development. The protagonist Kaya exhibits some grit and determination, but lacks an inner history that would make the audience connect and be interested in her. Her companions Xander and Julian are more or less body guards and are not given much importance in the narrative. In the same vein, the supporting character of Rey (Alexander Wraith) had some good scenes which brought out tensions but none that altered the entire premise of the story in any dramatic way.
The editing of the film can be said to be one of its weaker points. After the introduction, most of the middle sections are unnecessarily long with repetition of scenes without movement of the story. The moments intended to create suspense are predictable as they are dependant on a tedious storyline that is full of overused scary scenes and dull scripts. These short comings on their part leaves the impression that the plot was weak and not very dynamic.
The other elements, both visual and auditory of Dead Sea, however, are so second rate that it is hard to watch. There is nothing much to write about the film’s camera work it is standard, but unfortunately does not maximize the potential the open sea and the hull of the trawler could offer. Sound design is bland and offers nothing new; the film’s soundtrack follows the same monotonous model of music that never helps the film build an atmosphere.
All the ingredients for a gripping crime horror film seem to be present in Dead Sea, only that they are not used effectively. The film has a mundane plot that can be anticipated, unimaginative and inadequately developed characters, and a dull overall feel to it such that there really is nothing in the movie that will be worth remembering. Most of the scenes performed, especially that of Gravitt and Cameron, were good. But these were scenes only and could not even do any good to the film due the script as its limitations.
As for the theme of man’s inhumanity to man, and of survival, Dead sea broadens the scope of cruelty to how many can be one. Still, there’s no such message as this in the film for some in the audience who are expecting something that would tie all loose ends are left with confusion. The attempt, if any, to put in some critique regarding human interaction and to the morality of acting towards others in the world is drowned by an easy story telling and poor realisation of this in a film.
Final Thoughts: Dead Sea is a ‘And You Wish They Hadn’t Bothered’. All the elements for a thriller are there, and most of the audience would be looking for, but they fail to capitalize on the opportunity. The things that are the downfall of the movie are the clichéd storyline, adage development of the characters and blurry feel altogether the film will not be difficult to forget at all.
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