Discover ‘Night Swim’: The Original Short That Sparked the Horror Film

The supernatural thriller “Night Swim” has made its theatrical debut, submerging a family into an eerie aquatic nightmare centered around a haunted swimming pool. Interestingly, this gripping narrative draws inspiration from a 2014 short film of the same name by Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire, which is available for viewing now.

In anticipation of the theatrical release of “Night Swim,” Bryce McGuire, one of the filmmakers, shared insights about the short’s inception, explaining, “The short was born from a simple conversation with Rod Blackhurst. We reminisced about childhood fears of swimming pools, that unsettling feeling of not seeing the bottom and imagining something lurking below. We wanted to capture that sense of dread in a concise format.”

The 2014 short features Megalyn Echikunwoke (“Emily the Criminal,” “Damien”) as Eve, who becomes the target of a sinister presence during a nocturnal swim, delivering chilling suspense within its brief four-minute duration.

The short film instantly dives into the horror, devoid of elaborate backstory or explanations, focusing solely on aquatic thrills.

Expanding on the premise, writer/director Bryce McGuire’s full-length version stars Wyatt Russell (“Overlord,” “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”) as Ray Waller, a retired baseball player battling a degenerative illness. Alongside his concerned wife Eve (portrayed by Oscar® nominee Kerry Condon), teenage daughter Izzy, and young son Elliot, they move into a new home.

Ray sees the backyard pool as a potential therapy spot and fun for the family. However, the house harbors a dark secret, unleashing a malevolent force that ensnares the family in a harrowing descent into terror.

“Night Swim,” helmed by Bryce McGuire (also known for the upcoming film “Baghead”), is produced by James Wan (known for the Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring franchises) and Jason Blum (producer of the Halloween films, The Black Phone, and The Invisible Man). The film is executive produced by Michael Clear and Judson Scott for Wan’s Atomic Monster and by Ryan Turek for Blum’s Blumhouse.