“Night Swim” is a 2024 American supernatural horror film penned and helmed by Bryce McGuire, marking his debut in feature direction. It’s based on McGuire and Rod Blackhurst’s 2014 short film of the same title. The movie, starring Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon, revolves around a suburban family’s eerie realization that their backyard swimming pool harbors a malevolent spirit.
Produced by Jason Blum and James Wan under their Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster banners, respectively, Night Swim is the inaugural collaborative release following the merger of the two companies on January 2, 2024. Universal Pictures distributed Night Swim in the United States on January 5, 2024. Despite its commercial success, the film garnered unfavorable reviews from critics, accumulating $54 million in global box office earnings.
CHARACTERS
- Wyatt Russell portrays Ray Waller in the film.
- Kerry Condon takes on the role of Eve Waller.
- Amélie Hoeferle appears as Izzy Waller.
- Gavin Warren plays the character of Elliot Waller.
- Jodi Long stars as Lucy Summers in the movie.
- Nancy Lenehan is cast as Kay.
- Eddie Martinez is featured as Coach E.
- Elijah J. Roberts appears as Ronin.
- Rahnuma Panthaky portrays Dr. Sridhar.
- Ben Sinclair is credited as the pool tech.
- Ellie Araiza’s role is Angel.
STORYLINE
In 1992, a young girl named Rebecca Summers ventures to her family’s pool one evening to retrieve a toy boat belonging to her terminally ill brother, Tommy. While attempting to retrieve the boat, she is pulled underwater by something in the pool. Fast forward to the present day, the Waller family—consisting of Ray, Eve, and their children Izzy and Elliot—are in search of a permanent residence following Ray’s retirement from baseball due to illness. They opt to purchase a house with a pool in the backyard, hoping it will benefit Ray’s health. While clearing out the pool, Ray sustains a scratch on his hand. Upon inspection by pool maintenance, it’s revealed that the pool is self-sustaining, drawing water from a nearby underground spring.
Ray’s health improves as he spends more time in the pool for therapy, but Eve notices concerning changes in him. Both Izzy and Elliot experience attacks from something in the pool, and the family cat disappears. During a pool party, their realtor, Kay, informs Eve about the tragic history of the previous owners’ daughter, Rebecca Summers, drowning in the pool. Later, Ray seemingly tries to drown a child underwater, attributed to his illness’s side effects. After discovering a pattern of disappearances in the house’s history, Eve seeks out the Summers family and meets Lucy, Rebecca’s mother. Lucy reveals that the pool’s healing waters require a sacrifice, leading her to sacrifice Rebecca to heal her son Tommy. Horrified, Eve realizes that Ray is now being healed by the pool at the cost of one of their children.
Returning to the house, Eve finds Ray under the demon’s control, endangering Elliot in the pool and threatening Izzy’s life. Izzy confronts the demon possessing her father, ultimately defending herself and her brother with a baseball bat. Eve rescues Elliot with Rebecca’s spirit guiding her, and together they escape the pool. Ray, regaining control, sacrifices himself to protect his children from the demon’s wrath. In order to prevent further tragedies, Eve, Izzy, and Elliot decide to stay in the house but arrange to have the pool filled in, ensuring no one else falls victim to the demonic entity.
