‘The Boat’ (2018): Sails of Terror Movie Review

Possessed vehicles and haunted vessels are nothing new in horror cinema. Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) and Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) took us aboard a spaceship from Hell in Paul Anderson’s Event Horizon (1997). John Carpenter and Stephen King brought the world Christine in ’83, followed by King’s solo project, Maximum Overdrive, in ’86. Steve Beck took to the sea with a haunted passenger ship in Ghost Ship (2002). Last September, the 2018 LA Film Festival introduced a smaller sailing vessel dubbed Aeolus in Winston and Joe Azzopardi feature film, The Boat.

When a nameless fisherman (Joe Azzopardi) sets out to sea for his daily morning run on his vessel, Aeolus, he finds himself navigating a thick fog before coming across a seemingly unmanned sailing vessel. Securing his own small boat to the side of this private sailboat, which appears too polished to be intentionally abandoned, the fisherman climbs aboard to investigate. Exploring below deck, he finds that nothing is disturbed and basic amenities are still in place. However, the one thing that is oddly missing from such a watercraft is any functioning navigational equipment. Returning topside, this unsuspecting and unwilling passenger begins to panic when he discovers that his own boat has vanished. After radioing for help to no avail, the sailor goes to use the bathroom below deck where he finds himself trapped behind a mysteriously locked door. Attempting to MacGyver his way out of his situation, the sailor realizes he must defend himself against a faceless threat.

Despite some ridiculous, melodramatic Final Destination-esque moments that will likely turn some people away, there is an appealingly simplistic survivalist element in The Boat, which is paired with a touch of the supernatural. While several scenes held moments of adrenaline-fueled suspense, a few of them could have been amplified through subplot or situations more obviously caused by a supernatural force. While these small gripes could have been detrimental, The Boat holds enough quality to keep this feature afloat.

Keeping the suspense alive are many filmmaking elements at work. While the landscape is simple, given the setting, the film is beautifully shot with outstanding production quality. Adding to intensified moments is the eerie and alluring score composed by Lachlan Anderson (6 Days). Finally, Joe Azzopardi steps up to the challenge of being the sole cast member with little dialogue. Azzopardi nails every scene as a resourceful fisherman/sailor who relies heavily on his wits for survival.

Although it may not be for everyone, The Boat is an indie film that can be appreciated by those who enjoy thrillers that pit a man against nature. With an additional supernatural element to keep things interesting, The Boat gives another layer of detail for audience members who are familiar with Greek mythology and the keeper of the winds known as Aeolus.