Dead Calm (1989)

Director: Phillip Noyce

Writers: Terry Hayes, from a novel by Charles Williams

Stars: Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, Billy Zane, Rod Mullinar, Joshua Tilden, George Shevtsov, Michael Long, Lisa Collins

Alone on an ocean sailing trip to recuperate after the death of their son, a husband and wife (Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman) find themselves in a battle of wits against an insane killer (Billy Zane) whom they rescue from the sea.

 

The great majority of the film revolves around these three characters, and the actors generate some real tension, particularly Kidman and Zane, since Neill is alone on a sinking boat for much of the time.

 

The tense stand-off between wife and killer and the husband's struggle to avoid drowning are effective counterpoints.

 

The subplot about the dead son never figures in the film after the extraneous prologue, and there are some classic dunderhead horror film cliches (ie, the killer who won't stay dead and the victim who doesn't shoot the killer when she can), but this remains an entertaining film.