The Drowned (15)

Director: Samuel Clemens
Screenplay: Samuel Clemens

Starring: Alan Calton, Dominic Vulliamy, Michaelangelo Fortuzzi
Running time: 84 minutes

VOD

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Review: RJ Bland

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The ocean has long captivated and terrified humankind. For thousands of years, it has served as both a vital food source and a conduit for trade - as well as invasion - across distant shores. We’ve relied on it, and it has been instrumental in our development as a species. Yet, in all these pursuits, countless lives have been lost. The sea is unforgiving, inspiring awe and fear in equal measure. This duality has given rise to rich aquatic mythologies, especially over the last few centuries. In Scandinavia, the Kraken, a monstrous, squid-like creature, was believed to drag entire ships beneath the waves. Tales of sea serpents and giant sea snakes were similarly widespread, while mermaids and sirens appeared in the folklore of many cultures. These alluring female figures were often viewed as omens of doom, luring sailors to watery graves with their songs. Fast forward to the present day, and that mythic role has arguably been filled by the modern-day great white shark (although they’re considerably less sexy). Director Samuel Clemens’ debut feature The Drowned also attempts to tap into our deep-rooted fascination with all things aquatic…

 

After pulling off a high-stakes art heist, three thieves regroup at a remote seaside cottage to lay low before planning their next move. First there is handsome prolific art-thief Eric (Alan Calton), who gun drawn, is on high alert when he arrives. He doesn’t find his cohorts but does find evidence that one of them, Denise, may be in a spot of bother – after he finds her necklace in a puddle of blood. When Denise’s son Matt (Dominic Vulliamy) – another member of the gang, shows up, Eric decides against telling him what he has found and hides the evidence. Hmm. A bit fishy huh? Paul (Michaelangelo Fortuzzi), the fourth member of the crew turns up and the three men decide they will wait for Denise to return. Tensions between the three soon start simmering away and then they begin to hear strange noises coming from the sea. Sounds that make them seemingly lose control of their bodies and head to the beach. Fortunately, they come round before entering the water. Hoping for a quiet night and Denise’s return, their plans are upended when three mysterious, beautiful women (Lara Lemon, Lily Vatalifo & Sandrine Salyeres) wash ashore in a small boat, claiming to have run into trouble. The men agree to let them stay the night. Naturally, nothing goes as expected.

 

Whilst there is a lot to like and admire about The Drowned, there are also undoubtedly some frustrations that prevent it from becoming a hard recommend. We’ll start off with the negatives because…well, it’s always just nice to end on a positive note, isn’t it? To be fair, there is only really one aspect that really holds it back – but it’s a bit of a biggie; the narrative. The intriguing set up and slow but effective build of the first act is effective in whetting our appetites. We’re not sure who we can trust or where the potential threat is coming from and there’s a mystery there that’s easy to be enthralled by. However, about halfway. through, the film hits a bit of a wall. The introduction of the three stranded women at the end of act one should really propel the story forwards and introduce new layers of tension. But despite some initial captivation, it doesn’t really happen. There’s a lot of talking, a bit of scheming and some more siren calls but ultimately this middle act feels like it drags. While the final act regains some energy, culminating in a somewhat predictable conclusion, the middle stretch lacks the urgency or surprises needed to sustain the suspense.

 

That said, there’s still plenty here to make The Drowned worth your time. For a small budget independent, the film punches above its weight from a technical perspective. Director Samuel Clemens comes from a bit of a writing dynasty. His father, Brian Clemens was a prolific screenwriter – and worked on The Avengers TV series as well as features such as Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971) and Disney’s rather unnerving The Watcher in the Woods (1980). Samuel Clemens is also the great, great, great nephew of Mark Twain. Somewhat ironically, his direction outshines the writing. Set in an eerie, windswept coastal locale, the film builds a hypnotic atmosphere that lingers like a half-remembered dream. Most of the action unfolds under cover of darkness or at twilight, creating a liminal, almost otherworldly sense of time. There are some confident flourishes too – such as an opening ten minutes that’s basically entirely silent but which gets across key character and plot points with striking efficiency. The performances are solid across the board, avoiding the common pitfalls of low-budget horror, where acting can often feel uneven or amateurish. So, while The Drowned doesn’t quite stick the landing narratively, it more than makes up for it with mood, direction, and a strong sense of style. Just be prepared for a slow burn — and keep an ear out for the call of the sea.