ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

KSL Movie Show review: ‘Night Swim’ is a murky mess

Jan 12, 2024, 6:00 PM | Updated: Aug 5, 2024, 1:46 pm

ksl movie show review night swim...

In this KSL Movie Review, dive into the not-so-nice waters of 'Night Swim,' which was adapted from a 2024 short film of the same name.

SALT LAKE CITY — Based on a five-minute short film by the same name ten years ago, the Blumhouse gang decided to give this new filmmaker, Bryce McGuire, a chance to expand on his idea with a ninety-minute feature film. 

The original idea was simple, with a fairly intense result.

Young woman swimming in a pool at night, sees a figure standing poolside from deep underwater. When she surfaces to chide her boyfriend for startling her, no one is there.

She goes back under and again sees a shadowy figure on the lawn, but this time, the waterlogged figure approaches the edge of the pool.

Young woman leaps back in a panic, the lights go out in the pool. Lights come back on. Pool is empty.

Quick, simple, chills.

Oh, if only it were that easy.

Now, McGuire and his writing partner Rod Blackhurst have to add another 85 minutes of terror, attract a couple of top-notch performers and keep an audience on the edge of their seats for hopefully some of the time.

It’s a tall order, so here’s what they came up with.

‘Night Swim’ as a full-length movie

Ray Waller (Wyatt Russell) is a medically-retired, third baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers, whose career is cut short with the onset of muscular dystrophy.

In search of a new home near his medical facility, they find a super deal on a nice big house with a good-sized pool. His wife Eve (Kerry Condon) is not keen on the pool, even though she’s an accomplished swimmer and their kids Izzy (Amélie Hoeferle) and Elliot (Gavin Warren) are overjoyed.

We know from the opening scene, which borrows liberally from the short film, that a young girl Rebecca drowned years earlier in that same pool trying to catch a toy powerboat, but the real estate agent fails to mention it since it’s all in the past.

A pool tech (Ben Sinclair) expounds on the pool’s virtues, saying it’s unusual to find a pool that is fed by a natural, underground spring in a most reverent and strange manner. Enjoy him, because his antics are some of the few lighthearted moments in a film about a killer pool.

So deciding to continue on this somber path, the kids experience some weird sightings. Mom has one too, but dad finds new energy and strength in the healing waters, to the point where he wants to spend all of his time in the pool.

His behavior becomes even more erratic and Eve is beginning to take notice, going so far to do the obligatory web search for strange events that have occurred in and around the area.

We see flashes of old-timey photos of businessmen, nurses, was that a clown? All bunches of people that all met their doom in this spring-fed area.

What in the world is going on? And how much more disjointed craziness can we pile upon this story to get to that ninety-minute goal? More than a giggling audience can handle, from what I was hearing.

When it appeared the water itself had its own goals and aspirations (none of them good), I checked out.

But I did get a kick out of the daughter taking a baseball bat to an aqua-zombie character like that’s gonna help. Wait. It did? Come on!

Yep.

“Night Swim” is a murky mess. Should have been funny-scary. Wasn’t. Tried to be scary-scary. Couldn’t pull that off either.

There’s no lifeguard or plot fixer: So swim at your own risk.

NIGHT SWIM (C-) Rated PG-13 for terror, some violent content and language. Starring Wyatt Condon, Kerry Condon, Amélie Hoeferle, Gavin Warren and Jodi Long. Co-written and directed by Bryce McGuire in his feature film debut. Filmed in Los Angeles. Running time: 98 minutes

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.

More from the KSL Movie Show:

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Arts + Entertainment

Bring them Down movie review...

Steve Salles

KSL Movie Show review: Beware ‘Bring Them Down’ may be a difficult watch

Steve Salles says the movie "Bring them Down" is well-made, well-acted, but be nothing but misery.

21 hours ago

KSL Movie Reviewer Steve Salles says he doesn't enjoy trashing movies, especially those that featur...

Steve Salles

KSL Movie Show review: ‘Love Hurts’ is painful to watch

The only saving grace of "Love Hurts," writes KSL Movie Reviewer Steve Salles, is that it's relatively short.

2 days ago

people's music hall of fame 2025 induction ceremony...

Heather Kelly

People’s Music Hall of Fame to be permanently based in Utah

Huey Lewis will be inducted into the People's Music Hall of Fame during its inaugural event on Friday, Feb. 7 at the Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City.

4 days ago

ELMONT, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Sabrina Carpenter performs on stage during the 2024 MTV Video Musi...

MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer

2025 Grammys: Sabrina Carpenter wins first award of the night

Sabrina Carpenter scored the first award of the 2025 Grammys.

6 days ago

The graphic above shows the level of price changes in popular Super Bowl party snack foods. (AP Dig...

SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN

Winging it for the Super Bowl? Broccoli might be a cheaper party snack this year

Economists found a surprising spread in prices for popular game-day ingredients and prepared foods.

6 days ago

valiant one movie poster next to steve salles...

Steve Salles

KSL Movie Show review: ‘Valiant One’ is a silly movie that takes itself too seriously

"Valiant One" features a series of logistical mistakes with serious consequences — in a goofy movie that shouldn’t be mired by serious consequences. 

8 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Full speed through the snow. A man on skis is pulled by his through the snow at full gallop Skijori...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for an unforgettable skijoring adventure in Bear Lake!

“Skijoring the Bear” takes place this year on February 21-22 in Garden City, Utah.

the bedroom in a geodesic dome shows the night sky...

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon

Your front row to an extraordinary cosmos show

As America's first glass dome stargazing resort, Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular places to stay.

2 people huddled up in a blanket and warm clothes sipping hot chocolate...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Bear Lake

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Bear Lake should definitely be on your radar. Read this guide for more!

big crowd of people under holiday lights in an outdoor market...

Western Nut

Our favorite family Christmas activities in Utah

We gathered up a list of our favorite activities, movies, and treats to try this holiday season that the whole family can enjoy.

an IT tech looks at a laptop in front of a server network...

Comcast Business

Tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks

Check out this resource from Comcast Business to learn more about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.

A surprise gift, wrapped and ready to bring holiday cheer! Whether for Christmas, a birthday, or an...

Western Nut

10 Holiday Gift Ideas to cover everyone on your list

This guide is for you if you need holiday gift ideas that will make a lasting impression. 

KSL Movie Show review: ‘Night Swim’ is a murky mess