A tense tale of menace, murder and redemption, The Deep End is a film that sets itself high and stylish standards but ultimately fails to meet them all. Set in a sleepy American lakeside town, it traces the sudden and rapid disintegration of the life of Margaret Hall, a devoted mother who discovers her son is having an affair with a seedy older man Darby Reese (played by the suitably sleazy Josh Lucas). Matters take a turn for the worse when, after Reese's death, she finds herself the victim of a blackmail plot. With her husband away at sea, it falls to her alone to keep the family safe from harm. Salvation comes in the unlikely form of Alex (ER regular Goran Visnjic), her blackmailer, who develops a close and unexpected bond with his intended victim.

Tilda Swinton dominates proceedings as the increasingly desperate Margaret, although her relationship with Visnijc stretches the boundaries of credibility just a little too far. The direction is self-consciously showy, jumping at every opportunity for a clever shot. Although it isn't half the film that it thinks it is, The Deep End is still capable of holding the viewer's interest for its modest duration.

On the DVD: The Deep End disc, in an annoying throwback to the days of video, opens straight into a series of trailers for forthcoming attractions. Once the menu itself appears there is a distinct lack of inventiveness and thought. The interactive features offer a choice of subtitles and scene selection. Picture and soundwise, the lush, deep shots of the lakeside location work well in the digital format and the subtle, suspense-building score is clear and crisp. --Phil Udell

Product Description

Zdjęcie poglądowe, okładki mogą się różnić.


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