The Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep
Cert. PG, 111 min
Stars: Alex Etel, Bruce Allpress, Ben Chaplin, Emily Watson, Priyanka Xi, Eddie Campbell, Peter Corrigan, Brian Cox, Carl Dixon
Directed by Jay Russell

BASED on the book by Dick King-Smith, The Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep recounts a magical friendship between a boy and a wondrous creature in 1940s Scotland.

Unable to come to terms with his father’s death in the war, youngster Angus MacMorrow (Alex Etel) feels disconnected from his older sister Kirstie and mother Anne, who works as house- keeper at a sprawling mansion close to Loch Ness. During a trip to the beach, Angus stumbles upon a giant egg, which hatches to reveal a cute creature.

Eventually the boy enlists new handyman, Lewis (Ben Chaplin) help to transfer the rapidly-growing creature – named Crusoe – to the loch.

News of the creature spreads like wildfire and the local media scrambles to get a picture.

When a soldier decides to kill Crusoe for sport, Angus risks everything to save his new best friend.

The Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep unfolds as expected, juxtaposing the harsh realities of the war with idyllic scenes of Angus riding Crusoe bareback across the lake.

Etel is endearing as a son wrestling with his grief, but the final surprise is clearly sign- posted. We’ve swum in these murky waters many, many times before.