The Water Man (2020)
Film · Adventure, Fantasy
Stream itif you appreciate a gentle, earnest family adventure that tackles heavy themes with sincerity and visual flair.
A family-friendly adventure that blends a quest for magic with a grounded story about a child's love for his ailing parent. It is visually imaginative and earnest, offering a Spielbergian mix of wonder and emotional weight for all ages.
What it is about
Hoping to save his sick mother, a boy named Gunner and his friend Jo venture into the remote Wild Horse forest to search for a mythical figure who possesses the secret to immortality. When they go missing, Gunner's father Amos must immerse himself in his son's world to find them.
Trailer
What The Water Man is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this film feels like stepping into a classic eighties adventure, though it carries a modern emotional weight. The pace is steady, allowing the lush, sometimes eerie forest setting to become a character in its own right. While there are moments of tension and mythical wonder, the intensity remains grounded in the quiet, heartfelt interactions between the children and the natural world around them.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is a perfect choice for families seeking a story with more depth than standard animated fare, though parents should be aware it deals directly with the fear of losing a loved one. It is for those who enjoy Spielbergian wonder and don't mind a sentimental tone. Those looking for high-octane action or complex world-building might find the narrative a bit too slight or predictable.
The right evening for it
It suits a quiet Sunday evening when you want something visually beautiful and emotionally resonant. It is a film that encourages conversation between parents and children about courage and grief.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
How The Water Man leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
You will likely come away feeling thoughtful and tender. It leaves a lingering sense of melancholy balanced by a warm appreciation for family bonds and the resilience of a child's love.
How The Water Man ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
Gunner and Jo continue their trek towards the ridge, encountering strange phenomena such as a river of beetles and July snow while remaining unaware of a raging forest fire nearby. Gunner seeks the immortal Water Man to save Mary from leukaemia, and his sketches come to life as he wishes for a magical solution. The children bond through their shared neglect, solving problems as they move closer to the fire.
The film ends with the closing credits, which display the completed version of Gunner’s graphic novel about Detective Knox. This confirms that Gunner eventually finishes his creative project, though the resolution of the forest fire and the search for the immortal being is left to the audience’s interpretation of Gunner's artistic world.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
A Monster Calls (2016)
the use of fantasy elements to process a parent's terminal illness
Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
the blend of childhood imagination with grounded emotional stakes
Pete's Dragon (2016)
the earnest tone and atmospheric woodland setting
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Questions people ask
- Is The Water Man a feel-good film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Feel-Good, with an epic streak. A family-friendly adventure that blends a quest for magic with a grounded story about a child's love for his ailing parent. It is visually imaginative and earnest, offering a Spielbergian mix of wonder and emotional weight for all ages.
- How long is The Water Man?
- The Water Man runs 92 min and was released in 2020.
- Where can I watch The Water Man in the UK?
- In the UK, The Water Man is included with Netflix (all plans).
- Is The Water Man worth watching?
- Stream it: if you appreciate a gentle, earnest family adventure that tackles heavy themes with sincerity and visual flair. IMDb users rate it 5.6 out of 10 from 4,862 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 78%, Metacritic 68 and TMDB users 6.1.
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