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Knife in the Water

1962·Movie
1h 34min·NR
IMDb7.4Metacritic838.1Rotten Tomatoes97%85%

Where to watch

HBO MaxKanopyCriterion

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Knife in the Water fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Nerve-racking

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension9
  • Adrenaline3
  • Fast Pace2

Heart

Emotionally reserved

Much of it is about family.

  • Family Dynamics8
  • Melancholy6
  • Romance5

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay6
  • Satire & Parody3
  • Cringe Humor2

World

Everyday modern life, the mind, and class and money

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Ambiguity9
  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality8

Craft

Standout direction, characters, and performances

  • Direction9
  • Character Depth9
  • Acting8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography9
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want fast pacing

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological moviesAtmospheric movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Acclaimed by all! Roman Polanski's tense, ironic Drama!

On their way to an afternoon on the lake, husband and wife Andrzej and Krystyna nearly run over a young hitchhiker. Inviting the young man onto the boat with them, Andrzej begins to subtly torment him; the hitchhiker responds by making overtures toward Krystyna. When the hitchhiker is accidentally knocked overboard, the husband's panic results in unexpected consequences.
Psychological ThrillerMinimalist DramaExistentialPower DynamicsClass ConflictMarital DiscordCold War EraBlack & White CinemaSubtle EroticismHuman Nature Exploration

Crew

Directed by:
Roman Polanski, Andrzej Kostenko, Jakub Goldberg
Written by:
Roman Polanski, Jerzy Skolimowski, Jerzy Skolimowski
Produced by:
Stanisław Zylewicz, Jerzy Laskowski
Composed by:
Krzysztof Komeda, Jerzy Szawłowski, Halina Paszkowska

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Knife in the Water

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Knife in the Water legally?

HBO MaxKanopyCriterion

Knife in the Water is included with a subscription to HBO Max in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Knife in the Water worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84/100 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 83). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Knife in the Water rated?

NRSexual content

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: sexual content.

How long is Knife in the Water?

1 h 34 min

Knife in the Water runs 1 h 34 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Knife in the Water?

Critics90
Audiences80

Not quite. Critics rate Knife in the Water higher (90) than audiences (80). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Knife in the Water in?

Polish

It was made in Polish. Produced in Poland.

In how many countries can I watch Knife in the Water?

16AUBECADKESFIFRGBIEJPKRNONZPL+2

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Knife in the Water in 16 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Knife in the Water use?

Beautiful All AlongThe Blade Always Lands Pointy End InNo Name GivenFive-Finger FilletDouble-Meaning TitleCamera TricksJump CutSame Language DubBrick JokeToplessness from the BackMs. FanserviceGreen-Eyed Monsterand 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 storytelling tropes for Knife in the Water, including Beautiful All Along, The Blade Always Lands Pointy End In, No Name Given.