Head above Water *** (1996, Harvey Keitel, Cameron Diaz, Billy Zane, Craig Sheffer) – Classic Movie Review 2886

Based on Nils Gaup‘s 1993 Norwegian black comedy thriller, Hodet over Vannet, Head above Water (1996) is the story of supreme court judge George, his very young wife Nathalie, her ex-lover Kent, the boy next door Lance and a dead body that just won’t go away.

[Spoiler alert] George and Nathalie go on holiday at her family’s island summer home.  Caretaker Lance, Nathalie’s childhood pal, takes George on a fishing trip. Her alone time is shattered when old flame Kent shows up unexpectedly. But, after a drunken night, Nathalie awakes to find Kent, naked and dead in her bed…

The year 1996’s blackest comedy has exactly the right, fired-up cast in Harvey Keitel as George, Cameron Diaz as Nathalie, Billy Zane as Kent and Craig Sheffer as Lance, but sometimes the wrong script (by Theresa Marie), which very nearly sinks it.

Yet, despite all its faults, director Jim Wilson’s movie is still 90 minutes of enjoyably devious fun for fans of dark thrillers, Keitel and Diaz, and sick jokes.

It is produced by Wilson and John M Jacobsen for Kevin Costner’s company, Tig, and British company Majestic, which backed Costner’s Dances with Wolves.

The screenplay is based on the 1993 screenplay Hodet over Vannet by Eirik Ildahl and Geir Eriksen.

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some moments of strong violence.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2886

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