After pulling off an art heist, three men arrive at a secluded coastal safe house to discover their fourth accomplice missing. Was one of them responsible, or is there a malevolent ancient myth lurking at the water’s edge?
A group of three men—Eric (Alan Calton), Matt (Dominic Vulliamy), and Paul (Michelangelo Fortuzzi)—hide away in an isolated coastal house on the English coast following a successful art theft in “The Drowned” (formerly known as “The Waterhouse”). Awaiting another member of their crew, Eric comes across a trail of blood on the beach but decides not to share this discovery with the others. That evening, three women arrive at their door, explaining that their boat has wrecked nearby. The men offer them help and a place to stay, but things soon take a disturbing turn. Each man starts hearing strange voices and later finds himself inexplicably relocated, with no memory of how he ended up there. As the group’s numbers dwindle through sudden disappearances, the survivors are forced to band together, uncertain if the newcomers are really who they claim to be—or if something supernatural is involved.
The film’s set-up is genuinely compelling, with its mysterious premise and the tense, ambiguous mood it maintains through the first half. But as the story approaches its ending, the suspense and pacing weaken. Many key mysteries go unresolved, leaving major questions unanswered. Though the plot drops hints that the women may be dangerous mermaids, this is never directly confirmed. The choice to keep things vague could have worked, but here it feels more like a flaw than a strength, as the lack of explanation for the women’s true nature and intentions leads to frustration rather than intrigue.
While the protagonists have stolen artwork, the film doesn’t indicate that they’ve crossed into forbidden territory or broken any specific rules that would explain the vengeance they face. This lack of clear motivation muddles the plot. Early on, Eric’s discovery of blood is suggested to be connected to Matt’s mother, Denice (Corrinne Wicks), who orchestrated the robbery and was romantically involved with Eric. The plot thickens with the revelation that Eric and Matt are secretly in a relationship. In the film’s final scenes, Denice appears injured on the beach, only to be attacked by an unseen entity, her fate left unresolved as the film ends with her scream.
Despite these storytelling issues, “The Drowned” stands out for its technical achievements. The film’s sound design and Edward White’s atmospheric score build a chilling mood, while Fernando Ruiz’s cinematography takes full advantage of the widescreen format to emphasize the bleak beauty and solitude of the coastal landscape. These visual and auditory elements elevate the movie, even as the narrative loses its way. The acting is strong and the initial buildup—with its eerie arrivals, unsettling sounds, and constant sense of threat—shows real promise. Yet the sudden, ambiguous ending detracts from the strength of the opening acts. “The Drowned” sets out to be something exceptional, but its lack of closure and unresolved mysteries leave the audience unsatisfied and searching for answers.
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