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Drowning Echo

I don’t know about you and your family, but I can tell you that, when I go on vacation, the first place my child checks out is the pool.  I haven’t even parked the damn car and his ass is out the car door, shredding clothes, and running toward the pool.  He cannonballs into the pool, excited to be swimming freely, and will be in there for a good thirty minutes before deciding to come in. 

"Written and directed by Georges Padey, Drowning Echo is an interesting Greek mythology-inspired horror story"


Thanks to the opening of Drowning Echo, a horror film from 2017 that is being released next week for its VOD debut, that’s probably going to change.  In this scene, a woman is struggling to get out the pool at night.  She’s alone.  Except something keeps dragging her back into the deep end.  And then, thrust backwards one too many times, she never resurfaces again.  It's spooky and sets up the tension for what follows in the next 30 or so minutes.

Written and directed by Georges Padey, Drowning Echo is an interesting Greek mythology-inspired horror story that, with some much-needed editing, could have been whittled down into a damned engaging film.  Instead, we have a tale of underwater horror that is far too long and sprawling for its own good.  After the opening half hour, the film seems to run out of gas, and then it kicks it back into drive again for a rousing finish.

It is the unevenness that will hurt this one the most.

That being said, there is still an interesting horror tale at its root.  I mean, it isn’t every day that motel swimming pools are haunted by ancient spirits.  Most of the time, it is men in speedos that do the haunting.  Not here.  Co-written by its star, Itziar Martinez, Drowning Echo is the story of Sara (Martinez), who has been invited to her best friend’s year-round motel residency for a relaxing vacation. {googleads}

But one trippy dip in the pool convinces her that there is something dark that lurks about within its depths.  Sara leaves the pool with a nosebleed.  She goes back to her room and suddenly, she is yanked back in the pool.  Weird.  This continues for quite some time; and so does our time with these characters . . .

. . . but not enough time is ever spent of the greek origins of this beast.  With solid CGI work and lots of blood, Drowning Echo is a horror film that works in spite of itself.  You can see the inspiration and you can, especially in the film’s final, shocking moments, feel the fear and tension, yet some of these characters are just way too humdrum. Drowning Echo

Co-starring Dennis Mencia, Raul Walder and Natalie Blackman, this movie sees Sara running to a fortune teller for some advice on how to deal with the wet and soggy spirit world and has another character headed to Greece in order to best do battle with this mythological creature.  It sounds exciting, right?  The truth is that the film is a slow-moving ripple that weakens so much by the time it gets to shore (the conclusion), that the big finale feels a bit of a letdown or, at least, out of character.

But it isn’t completely under water.  There are some very nice bits and solid shots on the way to that climax.  Also starring Jane the Virgin’s Dennis Mencia, Drowning Echo will be available on VOD and DVD April 4 from High Octane Pictures.

Get soaked!  Drowning Echo will be unleashed soon.

3/5 stars

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[tab title="Details"]

Drowning Echo

MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime:
103 mins
Director
: Georges Padey
Writer:
Itziar Martinez, Georges Padey
Cast:
Itziar Martinez, Dennis Mencia, Raul Walder
Genre
: Horror | Mystery
Tagline:
Enjoy your stay while it lasts.
Memorable Movie Quote: "You're not safe. You have to leave this place right now."
Theatrical Distributor:

Official Site:
Release Date:
November 16, 1976
VOD/DVD Release Date:
April 4
Synopsis: During a visit to friends, Sara (Itziar Martinez) begins having visions and is attacked by an unearthly creature in her friend’s swimming pool. She soon discovers that anyone who comes into contact with the water is in danger and she is driven to confront the mystical and malevolent creature lurking in the depths.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Drowning Echo

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

No details available.

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[tab title="Trailer"]

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[tab title="Art"]

Drowning Echo

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