This project is about scary movies. “Dead Calm” is more of a thriller than a horror film, but it contains more scary situations than several of the horror movies I’ve watched this week.

The plot is simple. Bereaved couple is spending a few healing weeks on their yacht. They spot a schooner, and then notice a very intense young man is rowing towards them like a bat out of hell. They allow him to board, but Mr. Yacht doesn’t trust him. While Mr. Yacht turns up evidence on the schooner that our castaway is a crazy murderer, Mrs. Yacht fights for her life against Crazy Eyes.

The real magic of the film is that simplicity. Without a huge plot to unspool, we are given enough time to meet and worry for the Yacht family. The villain is given time to come to a slow boil, which makes him much more effective. The slow unfolding of the situation creates suspense that a lot of today’s gadgety directors could learn from.

I’m not sure the modern attention span would reward a movie with this kind of luxurious pacing, but I enjoyed it. Fully recommended.