The Water Horse

Name: The Water Horse
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Released: December 25, 2007
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Alex Etel

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 64 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 64 Ratings

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The Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep

Now Playing: The Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep

Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: December 25, 2007 | PG

Starring: Alex Etel

Summary: The story begins when Angus, a young Scottish boy, finds an enchanted egg. Taking it home, he soon finds himself face-to-face with an amazing creature: the mythical "water horse" of Scottish lore. Angus begins a journey of discovery, facing his greatest fears and risking his life to protect a secret that would give birth to a legend.The story begins when Angus, a young Scottish boy, finds an enchanted egg. Taking it home, he soon finds himself face-to-face with an amazing creature: the mythical "water horse" of Scottish lore. Angus begins a journey of discovery, facing his greatest fears and risking his life to protect a secret that would give birth to a legend. (Columbia Pictures)… Expand

Director: Jay Russell

Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 112 min

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Critic Reviews

Ella Taylor

Personally, I wouldn’t take a toddler (unless he was the son of Tarantino) to this intermittently, legitimately terrifying tale of a boy and his Loch Ness monster. But everyone else should blow off "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and show up for the best kiddie picture of the season -- and, along with "Ratatouille," of the year. Read full review

Kevin Crust

An enchanting tale of friendship and evolvingrelationships, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep" engagingly grafts coming-of-age movie chestnuts onto Scottish folklore. Read full review

Stephen Farber

While it boasts a lower profile than many other Christmas releases, it might catch on with parents who want to take their kids to a movie that the entire family will actually enjoy. Nifty special effects and a first-rate British cast elevate this production. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

The period detail is evocative, Watson and Etel are particularly good, and baby Crusoe -- a computer-generated image seamlessly woven into the live action -- is a slippery little star in his own right. Read full review

Marc Savlov

A family film in the best sense. Read full review

Jessica Reaves

First, a few things The Water Horse is not: revolutionary, controversial or challenging. What it is: a sweet, familiar story, beautifully filmed and lovingly told. Read full review

Karen Valby

Parents can trust that none of their wee ones will ask for a stuffed water horse for Christmas. The star of this Scottish fable, about the mythical Loch Ness monster, looks like a raw chicken breast with teeth when he hatches. Read full review

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User Reviews

HarryL.

Dec 26, 2007

A family film that is destined to become a classic!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JimN

Dec 28, 2007

Truly a family film that all will enjoy. While most films directed toward a younger audience often lead an accompanying parent to catnap, this film was a delight to watch with my sons.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MarkH.

Dec 27, 2007

An excellent children's film done with taste and quality as only the British can do. There's no bathroom jokes, no crude sexual references or senseless slapstick. Instead, we get a wonderful story about loss and friendship overlayed with fantasy and whimsy. This film is definitely An excellent children's film done with taste and quality as only the British can do. There's no bathroom jokes, no crude sexual references or senseless slapstick. Instead, we get a wonderful story about loss and friendship overlayed with fantasy and whimsy. This film is definitely four stars in my book… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

JGM

Feb 16, 2008

This is the type of story that, in the pre-CGI days, would have made a classic animated film. The naturalistic acting and seamless effects leave, perhaps, too little to the imagination. The story is a bit thin and the action sequences a bit too padded, but what's here is excellently This is the type of story that, in the pre-CGI days, would have made a classic animated film. The naturalistic acting and seamless effects leave, perhaps, too little to the imagination. The story is a bit thin and the action sequences a bit too padded, but what's here is excellently done, Fans of this should absolutely seek out Brad Bird's The Iron Giant, a very similar story and a superior film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

The3AcademySins

Feb 15, 2018

The Water Horse is an excellent, very well made children's film with some fine performances, a lovely script about loss and friendship, and some really good special effects to boot. While not perfect, especially in terms of bloating of the run time, this is a really enjoyable, pleasantThe Water Horse is an excellent, very well made children's film with some fine performances, a lovely script about loss and friendship, and some really good special effects to boot. While not perfect, especially in terms of bloating of the run time, this is a really enjoyable, pleasant surprise of a movie. It's very tasteful and mature at times. Definitely check this one out if you like family films.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JayH.

Mar 28, 2008

What a sweet and special movie. Finely acted, very professionally done. An exceptional family film, all ages will enjoy it. Good special effects.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

jabezT.

Jan 25, 2008

This movie scared my 5 year old and I hated everything about it. The plot was predictable and hokey. There were completely inappropriate and incongruous story lines about adult relationships. The expected bonding and mutually nurturing relationship between child and beast is completely This movie scared my 5 year old and I hated everything about it. The plot was predictable and hokey. There were completely inappropriate and incongruous story lines about adult relationships. The expected bonding and mutually nurturing relationship between child and beast is completely undermined when beasty tries to EAT the little boy! The beast changes its mind for unclear reasons, so instead of teaching that relationships are beautiful and worht trusting, the lesson is something akin to "stuff happens". I understand the need to suspend belief with this type of movie, but the ending action sequence was just plain stupid. They then left it wide open for a sequel in the most blatant way possible, one that I will certainly miss. My nine year old thought it was fair, so I'll give it a generous 2.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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