The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007), starring Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Brian Cox, David Morrissey and Ben Chaplin.

Before I had watched the film, I had visions of this being like a E Nesbit's 5 Children and It, as it is about this mythical and magical creature of Scottish legend. The tale of a boy who finds a creature that ultimately makes life better for all of those around him through his magic, instead we are delivered with a very different story written by Dick King Smith. Other reviews I have read have likened the movie to E.T., I guess because the boy is harbouring a forbidden pet, however, I feel The Water Horse plays out more like Free Willy.

The plot set in WWII is focuses around a young boy called Angus (Alex Etel) who one day finds what he thinks is a big rock, for it to hatch when he gets it home. The handyman who comes to live in the house, Lewis (Ben Chaplin), tells him that he has found a water horse, a mythical creature that bestows magical powers, who he names Crusoe. Angus persuades both Lewis and his sister to keep it a secret from his mother (Emily Watson), who would tell him to get rid of it without question. Along come the British army who take over the house, led by David Morrissey, and start to threaten Angus' secret pet. Not only does Morrissey's introduction provoke fear in Angus but it also provides the beginnings of a love triangle involving him, Chaplin and Watson. In the end the story ploughs towards a Free Willy ending with Crusoe escaping the confines of the Loch to go out to sea.

All in all this film neither reaches the heights of joy and originality of Free Willy nor portrays the deep seated emotions that lie at the heart of E.T. What typifies this movie is the film writers curse that is the flashback. The story begins and ends with Brian Cox's character who is telling the story to 2 American visitors. This makes the film feel tiresome and confused about the sort of film it wants to be.

At times it strives for light-hearted comedy, which then quickly tries to morph itself into a poignant tale of loss. The acting is abhorently medicore, with some cringe worthy dodgy accents appearing every now and then. For me the only point to seeing this movie is the CG water horse that Weta Digital created. Weta are famous for their work on Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia, and they do not disappoint with this film. The creature is life-like and at times I had to remind myself that it was actually a CG creation!

To say the movie is truly awful would be a disservice to the film industry, however, a un-original script with poor acting draws away from what could have been a heart-warming classic, especially considering the pedigree of the source materials author. If you are looking for a movie of this kind stick to either Free Willy or ET, two films that all the family can enjoy!
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆