Dark Water (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An isolated journey becomes a psychological descent as toxic water, concealed history, and family tensions undermine Petr's sense of reality.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Leaving the Familiar Shore

Petr leaves his former life and joins Maksim on a journey to an isolated boat. A cemetery visit and the discovery of Polina's resemblance to Petr's mother establish the group's complicated emotional background.

Key Events

• Petr Leaves His Former Life — Petr abandons his former life before joining the boat journey. Characters: Petr Location: The city
• Visit to Petr's Mother's Cemetery — Petr asks to visit his mother, and the travelers stop at her cemetery. Characters: Petr, Maksim Location: Cemetery
• Polina Joins the Journey — Polina travels with Maksim and Petr toward the isolated destination. Characters: Polina, Maksim, Petr Location: Road to the boat
• Petr Notices Polina's Resemblance — Petr is struck by Polina's resemblance to his mother. Characters: Polina, Petr Location: During the journey
• Family History Revealed — The group discusses that Maksim and Petr share a father but different mothers. Characters: Maksim, Petr, Polina Location: During the journey

The Boat Under Suspicion

The group arrives among ruins, an old factory, a cemetery, and mysterious dark water. Boat repairs, childish treatment of Petr, strange noises, and frightening stories quickly create tension.

Key Events

• Arrival at the Isolated Boat — The group reaches a place surrounded by ruins, a factory, a cemetery, and dark water. Characters: Polina, Maksim, Petr Location: Isolated boat
• Maksim Begins Boat Repairs — Maksim restores electricity and clears the boat cabins. Characters: Maksim, Petr Location: Isolated boat
• Polina Demands Petr Help — Polina tries to make Petr useful and treats him almost like a child. Characters: Polina, Petr Location: Boat cabins
• Strange Noises Disturb Petr — Strange noises, frightening stories, and visions begin disturbing Petr. Characters: Petr, Polina, Maksim Location: Isolated boat
• The Vanished Wedding Story — The group hears that a wedding party once disappeared in the area. Characters: Nikolay, Polina, Maksim, Petr Location: Isolated boat
• Nikolay Claims Supernatural Water — Nikolay claims the lake swallowed the wedding party and possesses supernatural power. Characters: Nikolay, Maksim, Polina, Petr Location: Dark water

Stories That Do Not Agree

Nikolay claims that supernatural water swallowed a wedding party, but Petr contradicts his account of where children played. Polina and Maksim begin to suspect that Nikolay is hiding information.

Key Events

• Maksim Rejects Nikolay's Explanation — Maksim rejects Nikolay's supernatural interpretation of the water. Characters: Maksim, Nikolay, Polina, Petr Location: Isolated boat
• Petr Contradicts Nikolay's Memory — Petr remembers that the children played at the factory, not on the boat. Characters: Petr, Nikolay, Polina, Maksim Location: Near the factory
• Suspicion Falls on Nikolay — The contradiction causes Polina and Maksim to suspect Nikolay is hiding something. Characters: Polina, Maksim, Nikolay Location: Isolated boat

Poison Beneath the Water

Polina finds evidence of waste disposal connected to the factory and collects a water sample. Identifying aldrin offers a material explanation for the visitors' visions and nervous disturbance.

Key Events

• Factory Waste Evidence Found — Polina discovers evidence that Yuliya's uncle used the factory to dispose of waste. Characters: Polina, Yuliya Location: Old factory
• Polina Collects Water Sample — Polina takes a sample from the dark water for examination. Characters: Polina Location: Dark water
• Aldrin Explains the Visions — Polina identifies aldrin, a toxic insecticide capable of causing hallucinations and nervous-system damage. Characters: Polina, Petr Location: Isolated boat

Petr's Unstable Horizon

Petr removes the car battery, is locked in the hold, and hears his mother calling from the water. Afterward, he cannot distinguish the city, horizon, and home, while Polina's friendly touch becomes threatening.

Key Events

• Petr Removes the Car Battery — Petr secretly removes the car battery to help Maksim repair the boat. Characters: Petr, Maksim, Polina Location: Isolated boat
• Petr Is Locked in the Hold — Polina accuses Petr of disobedience and locks him inside the hold. Characters: Polina, Petr Location: Boat hold
• Petr Hears His Mother — Petr panics, hears his mother calling from the water, and imagines reunion with her. Characters: Petr Location: Dark water
• Petr Loses His Sense of Place — Petr becomes disoriented and cannot distinguish the city, horizon, and home. Characters: Petr, Polina Location: Outside the boat
• Polina's Touch Turns Threatening — Petr remains vulnerable to hallucinations while Polina's seemingly friendly touch becomes threatening. Characters: Polina, Petr Location: Outside the boat

Story Breakdown

• Leaving the Old Life — Petr departs from his former life and enters the journey with Maksim and Polina.
  • Cemetery Farewell — Petr asks to visit his mother before leaving, and the group stops at her cemetery.
  • Polina's Resemblance — Petr is immediately struck by Polina's resemblance to his mother.
• Family History Surfaces — The journey exposes the complicated family connection between Petr and Maksim.
  • Shared Father — Maksim and Petr are revealed to share a father but have different mothers.
  • Unstable Group Roles — Polina treats Petr almost like a child while Maksim focuses on the boat work.
• The Isolated Destination — The group reaches a remote environment marked by ruins, a factory, a cemetery, and dark water.
  • Boat Repairs — Maksim restores electricity and clears the cabins.
  • Cursed Surroundings — Local stories associate the dark water with mystery and disappearance.
• Nikolay's Contradictions — Nikolay's stories intensify fear but become unreliable when Petr remembers events differently.
  • Vanished Wedding — Nikolay says a wedding party disappeared and may have been swallowed by the lake.
  • Factory Memory — Petr says the children played at the factory rather than on the boat.
• Poisoned Explanation — Polina's investigation reveals a toxic explanation for the apparent supernatural experiences.
  • Factory Waste — Polina finds evidence that Yuliya's uncle used the factory to dispose of waste.
  • Aldrin in Water — Polina identifies aldrin, which can trigger hallucinations and damage the nervous system.
• Petr's Psychological Collapse — Petr's actions and hallucinations leave him increasingly vulnerable and unable to orient himself.
  • Battery Removed — Petr secretly removes the car battery to help Maksim repair the boat.
  • Threatening Touch — After being locked in the hold, Petr hears his mother and later experiences Polina's touch as threatening.

Directed by

Roman Karimov

Key Cast

• Irina Starshenbaum — Polina
• Dmitriy Bogdan — Maksim
• Inna Egorova — Yuliya
• Natalya Shaposhnikova — Natalya
• Sergey Belyy — Nikolay