June 4, 2023 | Rome, Italy

The Deep End

By |2018-03-21T18:30:36+01:00November 3rd, 2004|Reviews|

Date: 2001

Director: Scott McGhee, David Siegel

Starring: Tilda Swinton, Jonathan Tucker, Goran Visnjic

T

o protect gay teen son Beau (Jonathan Tucker), mother Margaret Hall (Tilda Swinton) disposes of the body of a young man she thinks he murdered. If the hide-the-body conceit sounds dated, consider that the movie is based on Elizabeth Sanxay Holding’s 1947 potboiler, “The Blank Wall.”

Directors Scott McGhee and David Siegel set the action in the present, in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where Swinton is the dutiful wife of a naval officer who’s away at sea. Just when she thinks she’s shielded Beau, in comes a mysterious Balkan man (Alek “Al” Spera; Goran Visnjic) who claims he has damaging information and wants $50,000 to keep quiet. Seeing this little jewel pick up speed is like watching bath water drain as the vortex gets to spinning. Swinton (of “Orlando” fame) is riveting as Margaret, while Visnjic, the gifted Croatian, broadcasts menace and empathy. A fine and offbeat thriller.

About the Author:

A military brat, Marcia Yarrow was born in Hamburg, Germany but grew up in Germany, Spain, and Provo, Utah. She's been writing for the magazine since its creation in 2004.