"Jaws" instilled a deep-seated fear in us, making us reluctant to venture into the vast ocean. Will "Night Swim" evoke a similar sentiment towards pools? We will soon find out, as this horror flick is poised to become one of the first must-watch movies of 2024.
"Night Swim" is a feature-length adaptation of the critically acclaimed 2014 short film by Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire. McGuire has teamed up with renowned horror producers James Wan and Jason Blum, who were responsible for the box-office hit "M3GAN" in 2023, to bring this tale to the big screen.
Here's everything you need to know about "Night Swim," from its release date to the cast and the official trailer.
"Night Swim" is among the first new movies of 2024, premiering exclusively in movie theaters on Friday, January 5.
The Waller family takes center stage in "Night Swim," with Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie Hoeferle, and Gavin Warren portraying its members. Russell stars as Ray Waller, the father of the family. As the son of Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell is soon to be seen portraying a younger version of his dad in the Apple TV Plus series "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters." Apart from that, many viewers will recognize him from his role as John Walker in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" (and the upcoming "Thunderbolts" movie), as well as his performances in "Under the Banner of Heaven," "Lodge 49," "Overlord," and "Everybody Wants Some!!"
Playing Eve Waller is Kerry Condon, who recently received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in "The Banshees of Inisherin." Condon has also starred in "Better Call Saul," "Ray Donovan," "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," and "Rome." She is also making her way into the Star Wars universe, set to star in the upcoming series "Skeleton Crew."
Hoeferle and Warren portray the kids, Izzy and Elliot, respectively. Hoeferle is making her big-screen debut with 2023's "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," while Warren is best known for his time on "Fear the Walking Dead."
Here's the official plot synopsis of "Night Swim," courtesy of Universal Pictures:
"Ray Waller, a former major league baseball player forced into early retirement due to a degenerative illness, moves into a new home with his concerned wife Eve, teenage daughter Izzy, and young son Elliot. Secretly hoping, against the odds, to return to professional baseball, Ray persuades Eve that the new home's shimmering backyard swimming pool will be a source of fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for him. But a dark secret lurking in the home's past will unleash a malicious force that will drag the family into the depths of inescapable terror."
In the "Night Swim" trailer, things seem promising as the Waller family searches for a new home. But soon, the scene turns into the creepiest game of Marco Polo you've ever seen. After co-directing the original short film with Rod Blackhurst, Bryce McGuire takes the reins solo for the feature-length "Night Swim." McGuire's directing credits have primarily been in short films, but he has also helmed some indie horror movies, such as 2018's "Unfollowed." McGuire also penned the screenplay for "Night Swim" and is credited for writing two other upcoming horror films, "Imaginary," and "Baghead" (per IMDb).
