Overview: When a plane crashes in the unpredictable waters of Lake Michigan, the pilot is pulled from the wreckage by Mitch who has been stranded on his boat. Immediately suspicious of each other, these two strangers must overcome their differences to find a way to back to shore. Together, they must fight against the harsh elements if they have any hope of making it back alive.

DVD Verdict: 'The Surface' is a slow moving, but thought-provoking movie about two strangers who unexpectedly meet at a serious crossroads in their lives. Sean Austin plays Mitch, a young man who takes out his deceased father’s boat onto Lake Michigan with the intention of ending his life. The beginning is a slow, steady walk through the steps he takes and the memories that propel him forward.

Chris Mulkey plays Kelly, a desperate man transporting illegal substances, who falls asleep causing his small plane to crash. He is rescued by Mitch and their story begins. Their interaction at first is very wary. Kelly keeps Mitch at arm’s length with his knife and Mitch is disappointed his suicide plan is interrupted.

Mitch tries to get the boat to shore, with little helps from an injured Kelly. They are at the mercy of the lake and await rescue. They experience difficulties together: the boat develops a leak and Kelly has a panic attack. As they are forced to spend time together, conversation flows and revelations are made about their lives; they develop a friendship and help each other realize the value of their lives.

I won’t give the ending away. The story lines are sincere and sympathetic and the acting is top quality. If you are expecting high tension and adventure, you will be disappointed. If you are expecting interesting human story perspectives, you will be richly rewarded. This is a Widescreen Presentation (2:40.1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.

Reviewed By: Michelle Richardson

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