Row
Weeks after setting out on an ambitious mission to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in record time, Megan (Bella Dayne) is found washed up on an Orkney beach, barely conscious and the sole survivor of the four-person crew. As she recounts her fractured memories of what happened during the doomed voyage to the investigating police officer (Tam Dean Burn), the truth is gradually revealed. However, not everything is as it seems.
Row, the feature debut from director Matthew Losasso, is built upon a gripping premise. It’s a taut tale of survival that pits the crew against the elements and each other. Not only are they battling against constant exhaustion and unruly storms that could sweep them overboard, but the tensions on deck become increasingly fractured as equipment begins to fail and rations start to run low. Moreover, questions about who can be trusted inject further layers of intrigue into the script when it’s discovered that someone onboard may not be who they say they are.
The feature is remarkably well-made. There are visually striking shots that highlight both the scenic tranquillity and the unstoppable ferocity of the open water, with an impressive shot of the rowboat being dwarfed by an enormous wave being an effective reminder of the rowers’ perilous situation. A handful of twists towards the final act take the plot in unexpected new directions, which colour events in a different light. With everything that this thriller does so well, it’s even more frustrating that it falls just short of meeting its potential.
One of its biggest missteps is its non-chronological narrative. While this plot structure is intended to create a sense of lingering mystery, it has the unintended side effect of detracting from the simmering tension of what’s happening on the boat. The main source of drama is rooted within the broiling conflicts as minor arguments slowly metastasise into deadly confrontations. By repeatedly taking the action away from the claustrophobic pressure cooker, the flow is continuously disrupted with scenes of Megan recovering in bed before the main plot can resume.
From its atmospheric ocean setting to its suffocating sense of cabin fever, Row has the bones of a fantastic survival thriller. It’s disappointing, then, that its ill-conceived narrative structure undermines everything that this feature gets right.
Andrew Murray
Row is released in select cinemas on 29th August 2025.
Watch the trailer for Row here:
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