So close was never this far

Open Water 2: Adrift

Poster for Open Water 2: Adrift.
Explore the stunning rock formations and blue sea along the rugged coastline.

Synopsis

Adrift is a 2006 German psychological horror thriller inspired by Koji Suzuki’s short story Adrift, although the film was marketed as based on true events.

The story follows a group of friends who set out on a weekend cruise aboard a new yacht. Their vacation quickly turns into a nightmare when they become stranded in open water, forcing them to face survival challenges and the psychological toll of their predicament.

Despite being marketed as a survival thriller set in open water, the majority of Open Water 2: Adrift was filmed on and around a yacht off the coast of Gozo. The production used the waters off Gozo and Comino for the open sea sequences, with Mġarr Harbour serving as the docking location for the yacht at the start of the film, and the coastal road above Dwejra Bay appearing briefly as the friends drive to meet their boat. There are no significant on-land filming locations to visit beyond these two brief appearances.

FAQ

It was marketed as being based on true events but this was largely a promotional decision. The film is actually based on a short story called Adrift by Japanese author Koji Suzuki, written before the original Open Water was even released. The only factual basis is the general premise of people stranded in open water, a scenario that has occurred in real life but is not tied to a specific documented incident.

In most markets, no. The film was written and produced independently of the original Open Water and was released under its original title Adrift in most of Europe and Australia. It was renamed Open Water 2: Adrift for the US and German markets purely to capitalise on the first film’s success. The only connection between the two films is the shared theme of people stranded at sea.

The film was shot primarily on and around a yacht in the waters off Gozo and Comino, Malta. Most of the film takes place on or directly alongside the yacht, so there are limited on-land locations to identify. Mġarr Harbour on Gozo appears briefly at the start of the film as the group arrives to board, and the coastal road above Dwejra Bay is visible in an early driving sequence.

Production Info

Released


2009

Directed


Hans Horn

Starring

Susan May Pratt
Richard Speight Jr.
Niklaus Lange

More Info

Open Water 2: Adrift Scenes on Gozo

  • A car drives down a winding road towards the sea.
    Driving down a winding coastal road overlooking the Dwerja Bay, Gozo.
  • A yacht in Mgarr Harbour.
    “Godspeed” docked in Mgarr Harbour, Gozo.
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    Arrival at Mgarr Harbour.

Watch Trailer for Open Water 2: Adrift

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Open Water 2: Adrift Locations Map

Did you Know

Written before Open Water was released in 2003, and keeping its original title in most of Europe, as well as Australia. To capitalise on Open Water‘s success, it was renamed Open Water 2: Adrift or simply Open Water 2 in the United States and Germany. This renaming was done despite the only shared theme being people stranded in the middle of the ocean.

🎬 Explore Gozo’s Film Locations in One Day

Loved this production? My new Gozo in a Day: Film & TV Location Guide helps you turn Gozo’s screen history into a real day out, with a practical route through Victoria, Dwejra and Mġarr Harbour, plus colour photos, maps and useful stop-by-stop notes.