Dead Calm (1989)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers:

Charles Williams (novel)
Terry Hayes (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 April 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

A Voyage Into Fear.

Plot:

A mass-murderer kidnaps and seduces a young woman after leaving her husband to die on the vessel whose crew he's just slaughtered.

Plot Keywords:

Sea | Sailing | Kidnapping | Rape | Bare Breasts

Awards:

5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Nicole Kidman	...	Rae Ingram
Sam Neill	...	John Ingram
Billy Zane	...	Hughie Warriner
Rod Mullinar	...	Russell Bellows
Joshua Tilden	...	Danny
George Shevtsov	...	Doctor
Michael Long	...	Specialist Doctor
Lisa Collins	...	'Orpheus' Cruise Girl
Paula Hudson-Brinkley	...	'Orpheus' Cruise Girl
Sharon Cook	...	'Orpheus' Cruise Girl
Malinda Rutter	...	'Orpheus' Cruise Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Benji	...	Dog (as Benji U.D., A.D.)

Also Known As:

Dead Calm: A Voyage Into Fear (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

96 min | Turkey:83 min (TV version)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (cut) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (original rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Company:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Trivia:

Around 1997, there were rumors that Orson Welles material had been revised and seemed "as good as complete (compared to the shooting script)," and that his widow, Paola Mori, was trying to get it cut and distributed.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the first part of the sex scene Hughie rips off Rae's shorts and underwear. When she slips on a robe to go run up on deck and get the shotgun, she is wearing a white thong underneath her robe.

Quotes:

[Rae has just done away with a psychotic killer and rescued her husband from being lost at sea]
Rae Ingram: You know what I'd love for lunch? Fresh asparagus, then, um, pasta - angel hair pasta with heaps of basil, garlic, olive oil and, uh, apple pie. Uh, John, have you got a towel?

Movie Connections:

Version of The Deep (1970)

Excellent Film

Dead Calm is one of those rare thrillers with good acting, suspense and great setting. The ocean setting really makes this film, as well as the 2 boats. Kidman is a realistic and resourceful character and because the film had only 3 main characters throughout the whole movie, you go through the same emotions the actors do in the film. The ending seemed tacked on, but because the whole film is so good, the ending doesn't hurt nor help the film. Well paced, acted and overall great movie. 9/10