The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (HBO)

About The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (HBO)

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep is a 2007 family adventure film directed by Jay Russell. It tells the tale of a young lad in Scotland named Angus who stumbles upon a mysterious egg. He then becomes the caretaker of a mythical creature from Scottish folklore, known as the Water Horse. As the creature grows at an incredible rate, Angus goes through a journey of discovery and friendship.

Making / Production

Based on a novel by Dick King-Smith, the movie was produced by Robert Bernstein, Douglas Rae, Barrie M. Osborne and Charlie Lyons. Jay Russell directed the film with the screenplay written by Robert Nelson Jacobs. The film used a combination of live-action and computer-generated imagery to bring the water horse creature to life with detailed textures and movement.

Actors

• Alex Etel as Angus MacMorrow - The principal character of the film, Etel does an excellent job portraying a young boy discovering the wonders and responsibilities of nurturing a mythical creature.
• Emily Watson as Anne MacMorrow - Watson excels as the mother of Angus who is trying to keep the family together during wartime.
• Ben Chaplin as Lewis Mowbray - Chaplin plays the mysterious handyman at the MacMorrow's house, who bonds with Angus over their shared secret.
• Brian Cox as Older Angus - Cox ties the film together as the narrator and older version of Angus.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The water horse in the film is inspired by the Scottish myth of the "Loch Ness Monster."
• The movie was filmed in locations in Scotland and New Zealand.
• The graphic rendering of the water horse was made possible by Weta Digital, a top-notch visual effects company based in New Zealand.

Awards

'The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep' may not have won any prominent awards, but the film received positive reviews for its special effects, storytelling, and the performances of the cast.

Quotes

• Angus MacMorrow: "He's not a monster. He's not. He's just...just a wee baby."
• Lewis Mowbray: "He's a water horse. They're not supposed to have more than one in the world at a time. After this one's mother died, it laid this egg."

Music, Soundtrack

• The original music for the film was composed by James Newton Howard, creating a magical and adventurous soundscape to accompany the film's narrative.
• Songs used in the film: 'Beyond the Sea' performed by Bobby Darin, 'Do the Hucklebuck' performed by Brendan Bowyer, 'Jingle Bells' arranged by James Pierpont