Dangerous Waters (2023)

What started as a relaxing mother-daughter vacation quickly spirals into a harrowing nightmare on the high seas in Dangerous Waters. Rose, a quiet but perceptive 19-year-old, joins her mother, Alma, on a luxurious sailing trip along the Caribbean, hosted by her mother’s mysterious new boyfriend, Derek. The yacht, "The Seraphim," is filled with promise—sun-soaked decks, endless blue horizons, and the hope of a fresh start. But when Alma suddenly goes missing one night without a trace, Rose's perfect getaway unravels into a chilling fight for survival.

At first, Rose is told her mother fell overboard, a tragic accident. But the story doesn’t add up. Alma was an experienced swimmer, and the weather that night was perfectly calm. Derek’s aloof response raises red flags. The crew, tight-lipped and evasive, seem more loyal to him than concerned about the disappearance. As Rose begins to investigate, she uncovers fragments of her mother’s past—old letters, encrypted files, and a hidden passport—suggesting that Alma was running from something... or someone.

Determined to uncover the truth, Rose hacks into her mother's locked phone and finds a string of messages hinting at a double life. Alma had been in contact with a private investigator and was preparing to expose Derek for an international smuggling operation. Suddenly, the pieces fall into place: the expensive yacht, the shady crew, the isolated route with no radio communication. Rose realizes she is not on a vacation but trapped in the middle of an elaborate cover-up—and she might be next. As tensions mount, Derek grows increasingly paranoid. He accuses Rose of hiding information, surveils her every move, and finally confines her to a locked cabin. But Rose isn’t willing to be a victim. Using her wits and a growing sense of courage, she escapes her cabin through a maintenance hatch and begins recording evidence on a waterproof camera. One by one, she discovers the terrifying secrets stored below deck: weapons, falsified documents, and most chilling of all—a hidden room containing Alma’s bloodied scarf.

In the final act, Rose sabotages the ship’s power system and sends a distress signal using the emergency flare gun. The explosive chaos distracts Derek and gives her enough time to dive into the ocean with the camera. Battling the tides and a gunshot wound, she is eventually rescued by a nearby fishing boat—her footage intact. Weeks later, authorities launch a full investigation, and the footage goes public. The operation is exposed, and Derek is arrested. Alma’s body is never recovered, but Rose is no longer the same girl who boarded The Seraphim. She’s scarred, but stronger. The ocean nearly took everything from her—but it also revealed the truth. In Dangerous Waters, survival is more than staying alive—it’s uncovering the lies beneath the surface.