Film Review - Adrift (12A)

Oh my God, we're going to die out here.

There's a specific appeal, I think, in sailing survival movies, particularly those recounting real-life experience. Adrift, like Robert Redford vehicle All is Lost and this year's The Mercy with Colin Firth, is all about the treacherous beauty of the open sea, and those who've braved it with disastrous consequences. Yes the ocean is alluring, but it's also dispassionately deadly. In pure technical terms that's never been better conveyed than in this new film by director Baltasar Kormakur. 

Shailene Woodley is free-spirit Tami Oldham, a Californian girl who in 1983 set out on a sailing trip from Tahiti to San Diego with her partner, experienced British solo-yachtsman Richard Sharp (played here by Sam Claflin). What they had to reckon with was Hurricane Raymond, a category four storm that overwhelmed their boat, leaving the pleasure-yacht crippled mid-Pacific and letting on water. Thus began a long and gruelling attempt to reach land before starvation took its toll.

The first thing Adrift has in its favour is a cleverly-constructed screenplay that lands us floating in the post-hurricane debris along with Tami as she regains consciousness. It then alternates between two time-frames, bringing us up to speed with hers and Richard's kindred-spirit romance, while simultaneously following the ongoing survival attempt. The twin stories dovetail beautifully, adding poignancy to the drama and context to Tami's impressive response in the face of her disastrous circumstances.

Woodley and Claflin make for an engaging couple. She's chiefly known for the Divergent movies and tear-jerker The Fault In Our Stars; here she combines the physical attributes required in the former with the latter's heightened emotion - impressively so as she grapples with the logistics of staying alive. Claflin meanwhile gets to play an amiable adventurer, a far cry from the tormented souls he portrayed in My Cousin Rachel and Journey's End - at least that is until Hurricane Raymond comes knocking on the ship's hull. The spark between the two has this tough survival tale doubling up as a unexpectedly touching romance. 

And special credit goes to Icelandic director Kormakur, who immerses you in the Pacific along with Tami and Richard. 2015's Everest proved his credentials for shooting man-versus-nature true-life stories. He brings all that talent to bear here, making the seascape (much like he did the mountain) as much a character as the protagonists. The Pacific is stunning in its beauty, but it's also isolating and terrible. Most of this film is authentically-shot sea and sky. By the time computer effects are brought in to help depict the storm's fury, you'll feel so water-logged that you probably won't even notice. 

I didn't know this story before this film's release and hadn't read any articles going in. It made for heightened tension, and if you've been fortunate like me, I seriously recommend avoiding spoilers. Either way this will make for gripping viewing. Take two talented performers, pitch them into the sea and leave them to the mercy of the waves (plus a crafty script and some great directing). The results are intense. 

Gut Reaction: Engaged from the full-on opening moments - moved, by way of considerable upper body tension and occasional wincing.

Where Are the Women?: Woodley got good training in the Divergent series. Good thing - physically and emotionally this performance was clearly one hell of a workout. Well done that girl.

Ed's Verdict: 7.5/10. A terrifically crafted and often scary ocean (mis)adventure, anchored by two fine central performances. I can still taste the sea-salt.