THE DROWNED (2025)

4 stars

Sunrise Films & Vertigo Releasing. Digital. 6th October

Eric (Alan Calton), Matt (Dominic Vulliamy) and Paul (Michelangelo Fortuzzi) have pulled off an art heist worth millions. They head to a remote house on the beach to make their next move. Eric is the first to arrive, expecting Matt’s mum Denice (Corrine Wicks), who is also involved, to be there. Instead, he finds the painting, in a protective tube, on the beach and, alarmingly, blood in the water. Calling her name – there is no answer, but he hears strange sounds.

The other two arrive and are obviously concerned as to why Matt’s mother is missing. What has happened to her? Soon something odd happens – all three of them hear a voice and fall into a trance like state. Subliminal images flash across the screen. They find themselves outside on the beach, with no memory of how they got there.

They stay the night at the house. The wind whistles and the waves crash. Matt see an odd phenomenon in a bucket which appears to have blood in it and finds his Mum’s bracelet and believes she is dead. This creates tensions within the trio.

Later that night they rescue three women – Pixie (Lily Catalifo), Opal (Lara Lemon) and Noé (Sandrine Salyères), who claim that their boat sank off the coast, when it hit a rock and they got into trouble in the water. They have no choice but take them in, and the guys pretend to be on a bachelor party, so as to not reveal why they are really there. Of course we instinctively know all is not as it seems. Who are these woman who soon get more than flirtatious? What are the trance like states that sometimes takeover the guys when they hear a voice? Are the two related… They find themselves under attack – but by what exactly.

The film is also known as ‘The Waterhouse’ as the painting they have stolen is ‘Hylas and the Nymphs’ from 1896 by J W Waterhouse

Written and assuredly directed by Samuel Clemens – who is the son of the famous Brian Clemens… no pressure or legacy to live up to there! There is strong use of sound mixed in with a hauntingly effective soundtrack to drive the mystery. The film uses disorienting subliminal flash frames to keep you on edge. Intriguingly ambiguous, some will find the lack of any real answers frustrating.

Steve Kirkham