Lonely Water

Lonely Water

Year: 1973

Runtime: 2 mins

Language: English

Director: Jeff Grant

HorrorDramaMystery

Warning children not to play near ‘dark and lonely’ water, a horror film style look and voice-over is used in this film to highlight the dangers.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Lonely Water yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Lonely Water (1973)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Lonely Water (1973). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Mist-shrouded lake, murky pool, duckpond

The setting centers on a misty lakeside where a murky pool is littered with fallen trees and rusted junk. The bank is steep and slippery, turning casual splashing into a dangerous test of balance. A 'Danger - No Swimming' sign looms as a stark warning, hinting at hidden hazards below the surface. The place feels deceptively ordinary, concealing the threats that lie just beneath the water.

💧 Water 🌫️ Mist 🗺️ Lakeside

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:16

Main Characters – Lonely Water (1973)

Meet the key characters of Lonely Water (1973), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

The Spirit (Donald Pleasence)

A ghostly figure who haunts the lakeside pool, warning the unwary and toying with danger. He embodies the lure of risk, yet is thwarted when sensible actions are taken by the children. His power wanes as the kids choose caution over bravado, culminating in his robes sinking and his threat—'I'll be back'—echoing in the air.

👻 Supernatural ⚠️ Threat 🗝️ Mystery

Child (Terry Sue-Patt)

A curious, show-off child who teeters on the slippery bank to retrieve a football. His reckless bravado puts him briefly in danger, triggering a group rescue. He embodies the testing of courage and the line between daring and safety, contributing to the film's cautionary mood.

🧒 Curious 👫 Adventure

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:16

Major Themes – Lonely Water (1973)

Explore the central themes of Lonely Water (1973), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💧 Water Danger

The lake and pool are presented as dangerous attractions that lure the unwary. Hidden traps and rotten branches make even a playful outing risky. The narrative uses the water as a constant threat that can turn a moment of fun into danger.

👻 Supernatural Warning

A ghostly Spirit declares itself the guardian of dark and lonely water, moving unseen among reeds to menace the children. The voiceover frames an ordinary place as a looming threat, heightening suspense and fear. The repeated threat 'I'll be back' underscores the supernatural presence.

⚠️ Rescue and Courage

Despite the danger, the children act with prudence and teamwork to save a drowning boy. A big stick is used to pull him to safety, and the robes of the Spirit sink away—symbolizing human agency over supernatural menace. The moment reinforces resilience in the face of a hazardous environment.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:16

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Horror-infused cautionary tales like Lonely Water

Stories that use fear and dread to deliver a serious public safety message.If you liked the unnerving, instructional horror of Lonely Water, explore more movies that use a dark, supernatural vibe to deliver serious messages about danger and safety. These films blend a public service warning with a chilling horror aesthetic for a uniquely tense experience.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread often follow a simple, illustrative structure, presenting a series of vignettes where characters encounter a hidden threat. The story unfolds to show the consequences of ignoring warnings, creating a direct and effective moral lesson framed within a horror scenario.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared purpose: to educate through fear. They possess a specific mix of a dark, ominous tone, straightforward storytelling, and medium intensity focused on creating a sense of impending danger to drive a cautionary point home.

Atmospheric folk horror like the spirit in Lonely Water

Unnerving tales where ancient landscapes harbor malevolent, folklore-inspired entities.Fans of the grim, folkloric entity in Lonely Water will appreciate these movies featuring supernatural threats born from the land. Discover similar stories with ominous atmospheres, spectral presences, and a sense of inevitable danger rooted in folklore and isolated settings.

folk horrorsupernaturalominousunsettlinggrimatmosphericspectraldread

Narrative Summary

Stories typically involve a primal, often personified threat that guards a natural domain. Characters who intrude or disrespect this domain face dire consequences. The narrative is less about complex plotting and more about building an overwhelming sense of dread around this anchored, malevolent presence.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core focus on a location-specific spectral threat, a dark and ominous tone, and a medium emotional weight derived from the inevitability of the danger. The vibe is defined by folk horror elements, a grim atmosphere, and the unsettling presence of a supernatural force tied to nature.

Unlock the Full Story of Lonely Water

Don't stop at just watching — explore Lonely Water in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Lonely Water is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Lonely Water Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Lonely Water, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Lonely Water Summary

Lonely Water Timeline

Track the full timeline of Lonely Water with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Lonely Water Timeline

Lonely Water Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Lonely Water that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Lonely Water Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Lonely Water

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Lonely Water: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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