For once, a realistic crocagator flick

This is an Australian Indie made for only $700,000, which shows that you can make a quality movie on a very low budget. Not that "Black Water" is anything especially amazing, but it is the most believable crocagator flick I've ever seen.

The story is said to be based on true events, which I don't doubt since the film smacks of realism. This of course sets it apart from most crocagator flicks, like "Alligator," "Crocodile" "Lake Placid" and "Lake Placid 2" which have too much goofiness to take very seriously. While I enjoy those movies, especially "Crocodile," I prefer realism if given the choice.

The plot is reminiscent of "Night Skies," also from 2007, just substitute the croc for aliens.

Aside from the realistic vibe, "Black Water" has solid no-name actors in the main roles, particularly the two sisters played by Diana Glenn (Grace) and Maeve Dermody (Lee), who are appealing in a girl-next-door type of way.

There are only a few negatives I can cite: One is the thin plot. There's quite a bit of down time, particularly as the survivors mark time in the trees trying to figure out how to escape. For this reason the film would have probably worked better at the hour mark. As it is, it's 89 minutes with credits and some parts are really ssslllloooooowwwww. But the movie makes up for it in gritty naturalism. What would YOU do if you and your loved ones were attacked and cornered by a huge croc in an isolated swamp in the middle of nowhere?

Speaking of realism, this brings up my third cavil: A certain character is attacked by the croc and taken away. This person later wakes up in what is apparently the croc's storage area for kills. The problem? The character is healthy & fit enough to take on the croc amongst other activities. As believable as the movie is, this isn't.

If you're in the mood for a relatively fast-paced, partly goofy, horror thrill-ride, look elsewhere. If you want the awful truth, including many long sequences of heart-wrenching uncertainty and horror, check this out.

It was shot in Darwin, Northern Territory, and Oatley, Sydney.