Is Night Swim Actually Scary?

The Premise of Night Swim

Night Swim, a new horror movie from Blumhouse, has arrived in theaters with a PG-13 rating. Written and directed by Bryce McGuire, the film takes inspiration from McGuire's short film premise and expands upon it. Set around a pool with characters taking eerie swims in the dark, Night Swim seems poised for the creepy consequences of having a haunted pool in one's backyard. The film delves into horror lore and explores the balance between its story and its scarier components, despite the limitations of a PG-13 rating.

The abandoned pool in Night Swim

Why Night Swim Is Rated PG-13

Night Swim's PG-13 rating is a step below an R-rating and is attributed to 'terror, some violent content, and language.' The film features moments that firmly place it in the terror section, with some violent content arising from scenes where creatures from the pool attack the characters. Additionally, there are scenes with heavy bloodshed, primarily from gashes and a pool pipe. Despite these elements, the terror is not overly graphic or intense, and the film includes only a few light curse words in harrowing instances. The watered-down horror elements aim to attract a wider audience, while the rating makes sense given the lack of excessive gore and strong language.

Eve Waller falls into the pool to rescue Elliot in Night Swim

The Level of Horror in Night Swim

Contrary to some expectations, Night Swim is not an incredibly scary horror movie. While it has moments of tension and a few scenes that may leave audiences on the edge of their seats, it lacks excessive gore, horrifying deaths, and intense violence. The horror is relatively tame throughout, and even the jump scares are subdued compared to other horror films. This makes Night Swim an easier watch for those who are not inclined to sit through the more intense and terrifying movies in the genre.