REVIEW: Row | 33rd Raindance Film Festival

"A Tense, Tidal Thriller."

Washed Ashore with Secrets

Matthew Losasso’s Row opens with a bang, or rather, a quiet but chilling moment, as Megan (Bella Dayne) washes up on a remote Scottish shore, bloodied and bewildered, with no memory of what went wrong during her record-breaking transatlantic rowing attempt.

From that moment, the film grabs you and rows you into deep waters, navigating through the murky tension of survival, trauma, and truth.

Memories Are Made of This… Or Are They?

With her memory fractured and suspicion thick in the air, Megan must piece together the fragmented events that led to the catastrophe. Flashbacks blur reality and paranoia, raising one big question: what really happened out there?

The story’s strength lies in its psychological complexity - it’s not just a survival thriller, it’s a memory puzzle drenched in saltwater and dread.

Bella Dayne is a Force of Nature

Dayne anchors the film with a gripping performance. Vulnerable yet defiant, she pulls us into Megan’s unraveling mind without ever overplaying it. Sophie Skelton and Akshay Khanna lend weight to the flashback sequences, rounding out the ensemble with tension and quiet menace. It’s a tight cast, but Dayne’s haunted portrayal is the wave that carries the whole boat.

Ocean-Sized Atmosphere, Claustrophobic Chills

Visually, Row is stunning - and often unsettling. The vast Atlantic feels endless, but the boat’s cramped confines build a creeping sense of entrapment.

Shot on location in Caithness, Scotland, and using a custom-built water tank for realism, the film balances beauty and bleakness perfectly. Add in some razor-sharp sound design, and you’ll practically feel the boat rocking beneath you.

Survival, Suspicion, and the Storm Within

This isn’t just a “woman vs. the ocean” movie. Row explores how trauma distorts memory, how guilt corrodes trust, and how far someone will go to save face - or save themselves.

It’s not your standard survival flick - and that’s its strength. Expect slow burns, layered tension, and a few goosebump-inducing reveals.

A Riveting, Restless Watch

With Row, Losasso delivers a confident, original psychological thriller. It’s not flashy or fast-paced, but its eerie calm and haunting performances make it a standout.

Not all questions get neat answers, but the experience is immersive, uncomfortable, and worth every minute.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

World Premiere at the 33rd Raindance Film Festival 21st - 22nd June 2025.

FILM DETAILS

• World Premiere: 21st June 2025

• TL;DR: After a failed trans-Atlantic WR attempt, a woman washes ashore on a blood stained rowing boat. With all of her crew mates missing, presumed dead, she must try and piece together fractured memories of the ordeal to prove her innocence.

• Director: Matthew Losasso

• Cast: Bella Dayne, Sophie Skelton, Akshay Khanna, Nick Skaugen, Mark Streppan

• Genres: Psychological Thriller

• Run time: 118 Minutes

• Cert: -