Review: Hostile Waters

Set in 1986 when things are still tense between the US and USSR, several days before President Reagan was set to attend the Iceland summit. The film concerns an accidental collision of a US sub (commanded by Martin Sheen) with a Soviet sub (commanded by Rutger Hauer) as the latter attempted to evade being seen by the other sub. Both subs are armed with nuclear weapons, with the American sub crew wondering if an attack is imminent. While the American sub tentatively refrains from attacking and merely observes nervously, Hauer attempts to save his crew from the catastrophic disaster the collision has caused. Rob Campbell and a young-looking Dom Monaghan play Soviet crew members, Colm Feore is a high-strung KGB man on board, Max von Sydow is a Soviet Admiral, Harris Yulin plays an American Admiral, whilst Regina Taylor plays an American Naval Lieutenant.

 

A co-production between HBO and the BBC, this 1997 TV movie from director David Drury (“Defence of the Realm” and plenty of British TV) and screenwriter Troy Kennedy Martin (“The Italian Job”, “Kelly’s Heroes”, “Red Heat”) is likely a must for submarine fans and military buffs. Based on a true incident, for me it’s one of the better films in a subgenre I’m not hugely enamoured with. I just tend to find these films jargon-heavy and full of waiting around for something to happen. Here’s one that gives you more than that, however.

 

Rutger Hauer was well and truly into his direct-to-video phase here and likely relished the chance to do some real acting here in something of a little bit of substance. Usually the best thing in anything he’s in, Hauer’s the best thing here by far. The real-life Captain Britanov was apparently rather unhappy with the characterisation, though that may be a gripe with the script rather than the actor. I have no idea about that, I just know a good turn when I see one. It’s a hard-working, somewhat low-key performance from an actor whose versatility was often underrated. The other actors don’t get huge amounts of time to stand out, though a very fine Martin Sheen and character actors Colm Feore and Harris Yulin maximise their minutes. Sheen has a voice and presence you just can’t teach, perfect casting. Gravitas is what the man has in spades. Max von Sydow gets even less screen time in a role beneath his value, but he’s very fine nonetheless. I’m not sure we really needed the characters played by Regina Taylor and Alexis Denisof, however. They seemed a touch superfluous.

 

Although I tend to find these films a bit jargon-heavy sometimes, this one’s pretty compelling. I think submarines are death traps to be honest, you’d have to be a bit mad to sign up for such a gig as this. Exciting music score by David Ferguson (a Brit TV veteran) is a highlight too.

 

Rating: B-