Dead Calm Poster
70
metacriticBased on 16 Critics

Release Date: November 29th, 2003

DVD Release Date: December 14th, 1999

R|1 hr 36 min

Plot Summary
Rae Ingram (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, John (Sam Neill), struggle to overcome the sudden death of their young son. In an attempt to move past their loss, the couple take their yacht out for an extended vacation trip. While far out at sea, they come across a sinking schooner and rescue the ship's sole survivor, Hughie Warriner (Billy Zane). Hughie claims the crew of the ship died from food poisoning. Though Rae is empathetic towards Hughie, John is suspicious of his story.

Cast: Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman, Billy Zane, Rod Mullinar, Michael Long, Lisa Collins, Joshua Tilden, George Shevtsov

Director: Phillip Noyce

Genres: Thriller

Production Co: Warner Brothers, Kennedy Miller Productions

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  • 75
    Gene SiskelChicago Tribune

    Though the film resorts to a hackneyed ending, what goes on before is modest but effective terror. [07 Apr 1989, p.A]

  • 100
    Rick GroenThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)

    Rippling with resonance, Dead Calm is Jaws in a human form, a shape profoundly complete and completely disturbing. [07 Apr 1989]

  • 75
    Roger EbertChicago Sun-Times

    Dead Calm generates genuine tension, because the story is so simple and the performances are so straightforward. This is not a gimmick film (unless you count the husband's method of escaping from the sinking ship), and Kidman and Zane do generate real, palpable hatred in their scenes together. show more

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