Head Above Water

On a remote island, Judge George takes his young wife Nathalie away for a quiet vacation, hoping to mend their strained marriage. George's only neighbor, Nathalie's childhood friend Lance, joins them for a fishing outing while Nathalie reconnects with her ex Kent. A dangerous incident during the night upends their plans, and Nathalie scrambles to keep what happened hidden before George returns. As dawn breaks, the morning after exposes the fragile surface of their relationships and the loyalties of those around them. The quiet coastline becomes a pressure chamber where secrets flare and the truth feels perilously close. The film balances humor with danger, inviting viewers to question how far people will go to protect what they want.

Directed by Jim Wilson and released in 1996, Head Above Water stars Harvey Keitel and Cameron Diaz, with Billy Zane, Craig Sheffer, and Shay Duffin in supporting roles. The production leans on a sunlit coastal backdrop that shifts to claustrophobic interior spaces, letting brisk humor share space with mounting tension as the ensemble tests loyalties under pressure.

Box office data for Head Above Water is not widely reported, and the film did not post a notable worldwide gross in major outlets. Its release appears modest, with limited distribution outside major urban centers and select markets.

There are no widely reported major award nominations for Head Above Water, and it did not become a staple of awards season. No major nominations appear on records; some regional notices mention the cast's performances, but the film is generally seen as a genre exercise rather than a prestige project.

Reception is mixed, with some critics noting the film's brisk tempo and the tension between desire and conscience; others felt the tonal shifts muddled the comedy thriller blend. The story probes trust, jealousy, and the weight of choices under pressure, right to the edge.