Review: Night Swim features clichés galore and lackluster scares

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Horror Movie Blog > Horror Movie Reviews > Night Swim Review

Night Swim is a predictable non scary horror movie not worth your time.

Night Swim, directed by Bryce McGuire, was the first major horror release of 2024 and was adapted from the directors short film of the same name. 

I have only recently watched this one, as the reviews were bad and I was in no rush to see it until I could watch it for free on Netflix, and even though Stephen King praised it, I went in with low expectations.

Co-produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, it’s McGuire’s first full-length feature. 


The story centers on a family moving into a new home with a swimming pool, and at first, everything seems perfect. But soon, strange things start happening around the pool, revealing a dark history that threatens the family.

The film ultimately though takes a half decent idea and bogs it down with clichés and lackluster scares with a pretty weak script.

It just takes itself too seriously, which is a problem when the film is ultimately about just a haunted pool. Some self awareness wouldn't go amiss.

The biggest issue though is that it’s just not scary at all with no real standout moments, reminding me a lot of Tarot in that aspect, which I really did not like at all.

The movie lacks any real tension and memorable imagery, which could be partly due to its PG-13 rating, but others have done it, so no reason why Night Swim couldn't. 

The talented cast are also wasted, with Kerry Condon doing her best in a thankless role as the mother, and Wyatt Russell struggling with the weak script, and the horror aspect relies on very predictable jump scares and they are so formulaic that it's all just a bit meh.

Night Swim is a horror movie that isn’t scary, doesn’t have tension, and leaves you feeling wetter than the script.

You might as well just go and swim in an actual pool after eating a dodgy burrito.

Stephen King was right about The Coffee Table, but I am not sure what he was thinking in praising Night Swim. 

I would rate this film 22% on my horror movie nerd-o-meter.


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