Running Time: 78 Minutes
Starring: Valerie Kwok, Caroline Murray, Robin Bailes
Back in 2023, writer/director Ric Rawlins made his feature debut with the indie folk-horror film Rewilding. Two-years-later, the filmmaker returns with his follow-up, the River Avon set Wild Swimmers, which blends an arthouse work with a creature feature.
For her university assignment, trainee journalist Deji (Valerie Kwok) is told to find a dramatic story which has legs. Intent on finding something worth reporting on, Deji discovers an old tale about wild swimmers vanishing without a trace along the River Avon. With the help of photographer Kim (Caroline Murray), the pair discover that something lurks beneath the surface.
What helps to bring alive this work is the cinematography, capturing the lush Bath locations along with a sense of unease regarding the unseen dangers within the landscape. It becomes fascinating to wonder what may cause the resulting peril, and when the danger makes itself known, it grabs your attention. At its heart, this is a work that showcases the Bath location and feels made with community spirit.
It would not surprise me if this was made with local talent, with many solid performances on show across the film. However, there are also moments when some performances admittedly feel stilted. Regardless of how strong the acting is, it is admittedly difficult to imagine somebody effectively selling a line like "wild swimmers see some wild shit."
When much of the film rests on the performance of Valerie Kwok, it is thankful that she shines through in the lead role. She captures the sheer determination of Deji, who desires to find the truth by whatever means possible, while pushing to the back of her mind any life-threatening risks that come with her actions. She is inspired by the horrible treatment of journalists back home, something that leaves her unable to see her family, but also drives her determination to discover the truth.
This is also seen in a foot-chase sequence, capturing Deji's character in a tightly crafted manner. Admittedly, it can be distracting how the scene keeps switching between night-time and a lighter time of day, but it also shows the character physically and mentally going the distance in pursuit of the justice that comes from uncovering the truth.
Another effective sequence involves a flashback, offering humanity to a seemingly inhuman creature. It is a nice addition, although it does feel out of place as it arrives late in the feature. There is also a subplot involving Deji's possessive boyfriend, whose increasing red flags feel like a lengthy diversion in a short runtime. Despite this, Wild Swimmers is a love-letter to journalistic integrity and Bath seen through a monstrous prism.
Wild Swimmers played at Bath Film Festival
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