Out of Bounds (2003 film)

Out of Bounds
Directed by	Merlin Ward
Produced by	Michael Lionello Cowan Jason Piette
Written by	Merlin Ward
Starring	Sophia Myles Sophie Ward George Asprey Michael Elphick Julia Barrie Celia Imrie
Music by	Mark Ryder
Editing by	PJ Harling
Release date(s)	31 October 2003
Running time	90 min
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Out of Bounds (aka Dead in the Water) is a 2003 British psychological thriller starring Sophia Myles and Sophie Ward. It is the directorial debut of Merlin Ward, who also wrote the screenplay.^[1]

Plot

18-year-old Louise (Myles) is stuck in a run-down girls' boarding school and can't bear the thought of being away from her lover, art teacher Matthew, during the half term break. So she stays on at school, ostensibly to do extra work for her exams. But when Matthew's wife, Veronica (Ward), who is also the school's headmistress, finds out about the affair, she is driven over the edge and stabs him. Veronica gets rid of Louise by sending her off on an errand while she hides Matthew's body. When Louise returns, she is shocked to find Matthew gone. According to Veronica, she and Matthew need a little time apart to heal their marriage. Trapped in the remote school and haunted by nightmares, Louise finds the vast Victorian building a spooky shell without the other pupils. Late one night, she is awakened by Matthew calling up to her from outside her bedroom window. Scared and excited, Louise rushes to meet him, but it is only as his arms encircle her that she realises her eyes were deceived, and with fatal consequences.

Cast

• Sophia Myles as Louise Thompson
• Sophie Ward as Veronica Van Huet
• George Asprey as Matthew Van Huet
• Michael Elphick as Lionel Stubbs
• Julia Barrie as Isabelle Benallack
• Celia Imrie as Doctor Imogen Reed
• Richard Huw as David Benallack
• Chris Humphreys as Detective Inspector Amer
• Kelly Salmon as Phoebe Benallack

Reception

The film garnered a generally positive critical reaction;^[2]

""Actually rather good British thriller, about a girl who has an affair with her art teacher. However, his wife learns of their relationship..." Evening Standard^[2]

"Thompson is played here with aplomb by Sophia Myles." SFX Magazine^[2]

"Sophia Myles delivers a strong performance as an 18-year-old boarding school pupil in an affair with the art teacher husband of her headmistress. A brooding psychological thriller, this makes good use of its limited budget and stages more than a few effective shocks." What's on TV^[2]

"Intriguing and chilling." TV Times^[2]

"Enough to keep you guessing right up until the end." Total DVD^[2]

References

1. ^ Out of Bounds (2003) Yahoo Movies
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Out of Bounds Guerilla Films

External links

• Out of Bounds at the Internet Movie Database