The Water Man

The Water Man is David Oyelowo’s directorial debut, written by Emma Needell and also starring Oyelowo.

Gunner Boone (Lonnie Chavis) is a young boy who has just moved to a new town with his father (Oyelowo) and his sick mother Mary (Rosario Dawson). Gunner is smart and creative, his relationship with his father strained, due in no small part to worries over Mary’s health. When Gunner discovers a local legend, the Water Man, a shadowy figure who lives in rhe forest and has supposedly discovered eternal life and the ability to “reanimate” the dead. Gunner thinks if he can find him and learn his secrets he can cure his mother. To help him on his adventure he engages the services of Jo (Amiah Miller) a local girl, living in a tent and claiming to know the Water Man’s location.

The film is heavily influenced by those 1980’s teenage coming of age adventures, The Goonies particularly springs to mind, as Oyelowo uses those influences to deliver an enjoyable adventure. The film uses its forest location well, its density, darkness, mysterious sounds and movements build decent tension and also presents our young adventurers with challenges to keep the audience on edge.

Performances are solid especially the two young leads Chavis and Miller who are watchable and believable. Oyelowo and Dawson support them well as you’d expect.

This is a heartfelt story about family and the hope and belief that you can always be with those you love. But doesn’t shy from the realisation that it doesn’t work that way.

It’s not perfect, the final act feels a bit clunky and some of the dialogue a little on the nose, but that’s only a minor quibble.

The Water Man is an old school adventure, it uses its settings to great effect and has a good hearted story at its core. While it isn’t perfect it is an enjoyable 91 minutes of storytelling and a strong directorial debut.