Knife in the Water
1962 · Movie · NR · 94 min · ★ 7.3 · 90% critics
A couple heading out for a day on the lake nearly hit a hitchhiker, and reluctantly invite him along for a sailing trip. As tensions rise between the two men, a knife and mounting pressure push the situation toward unforeseen consequences for everyone onboard.
Where to watch
Watch free on Kanopy — also streaming on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Original title
- Nóż w wodzie
- Years
- 1962
- Release date
- 1962-03-09
- Language
- PL
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Critic score
- 90/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (476 votes)
About
Choose it if you enjoy slow-burn psychological tension in a confined setting and don’t need constant plot turns; Not for you if you want a fast, action-driven thriller like The Hitch-Hiker or Purple Noon.
Pros: tense psychological drama; memorable lake setting; strong jazz score | Cons: slow, little “happens”; divisive atmosphere; some credibility/acting complaints
Themes
- sailing trip
- sailing
- knife
- hitchhiker
- moral panic
- sail boat
- man gets between a couple
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best International Feature Film · 1964 · nominated
- International Submission to the Academy Awards · 1964 · nominated
Cast & crew
Leon Niemczyk
as Andrzej
Jolanta Umecka
as Krystyna
Zygmunt Malanowicz
as Young Man
Roman Polanski
as Young Man (voice)
Anna Ciepielewska
as Krystyna (voice)
Directed by Roman Polanski