The Pool (2018)

Genre: Survival Thriller / Creature Feature
Director & Writer: Ping Lumpraploeng
Starring: Theeradej Wongpuapan as Day, Ratnamon Ratchiratham as Koi
Runtime: 91 minutes
Streaming on: Shudder (since 2020) 

After a photoshoot ends in an Olympic-sized pool, Day (a dog trainer) drifts asleep on a raft. He awakens to find the pool drained and himself trapped at the bottom with no easy climb out. His girlfriend Koi dives in to rescue him—only to discover they're not alone. A crocodile, accidentally let into the empty basin, begins stalking them as water slowly returns.

• Economical, High-Concept Setup
  The film thrives on its simple premise: a man, a woman, and a violent reptile locked in a nearly empty pool. As production critic Rocco Thompson puts it, it’s "pineapple and pizza"—strange but surprisingly satisfying 

• Escalating Tension & Dark Humor
  The plot keeps layering cruelties—fingernail-smashing, barbed wire wounds, crocodile clashes—creating a stress-filled ride that teeters between horror and absurd comedy

• Inventive Survival Scenarios
  Even with minimal resources, Day’s resourcefulness shines. From cassette-tape UI gimmicks to crocodile eggs and metal pipes, the narrative maximizes tension and audience engagement 

• Emotional Punch & Cult Appeal
  The film’s emotional climax, especially involving Day's dog Lucky, has been called both unsettling and impactful. Critics remark it's as much a “cinematic junk food” as it is a subgenre standout 

• CGI Crocodile Looks B-Movie
  The creature’s computer-generated appearance is clearly low-budget and occasionally distracting .

• Plot Demands Suspension of Disbelief
  The premise’s extremes require audiences to embrace its ridiculousness. Some logic gaps—like missing ladder systems—become glaring, but fans argue that’s part of its charm

• ‘Mean-spirited’ Tone
  Dread Central describes the film as relentless and brutal. The constant escalation into torture-porn territory may overwhelm some viewers 

The Pool is unapologetically wild — a self-aware, high-concept creature feature that delivers thrills, laughs, and a surprising emotional core. Its success lies in its simplicity: a contained setting, an escalating string of disaster, and two forced survivors against one tough crocodile. This is not sophisticated filmmaking, but it is endlessly entertaining.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)
Recommended For: Fans of survival horror like Crawl, 47 Meters Down, or Frozen; anyone who appreciates B-movie audacity with a pulse-pounding hook.

• “Tremendous fun… a hell of a lot of dumb, mean-spirited fun” 

• “Irresistible cinematic junk food… best of the single-location subgenre” 

• “Croc attacks and finger-wrenching tension… viewer participants in the pain”