Budgeted at a mere 130,000 dollars, Open Water is the independent success story of 2004, and this DVD will not only show you how the filmmakers did it, but how you can do it as well. Presentation should always be the number-one key to releasing films on DVD, and this 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen edition, for the most part, does not disappoint. The problem for most home-theater enthusiasts will simply be that the type of digital video used here tends to create a less than clear picture some of the time. The upside is that the colors are indeed vibrant; just don't be surprised when you see obvious pixilation in some shots. The film's sound, however, is another story altogether -- one that boasts a completely absorbing experience through not only a 6.1 DTS ES track, but a 5.1 Dolby Digital EX track and a Dolby Digital 2.0 one as well. The disc has two audio commentaries, the first with the husband and wife filmmaking team and the other with the two stars, Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis. Both tracks provide tons of information and are a nice compliment to the other extras, starting with the "Calm Before the Storm: The Making of Open Water" featurette. Clocking in at 15 minutes, this behind-the-scenes clip is where you really get the nuts and bolts of how this entrepreneurial couple set out to make this indie feature themselves, and it's every bit as interesting as it would seem. From researching and then shopping for cameras online to home editing on a personal computer, the story of Open Water is almost as interesting as the feature itself. Also included is "The Indie Essentials: A Filmmakers Guide to Gearing Up for a Profitable Movie" featurette, which briefly discusses Lions Gate and their history of acquiring smaller films for higher profit. Add in the theatrical trailer plus seven deleted scenes (including a chilling alternate opening), as well as some on-location footage from the shoot, and that, in a nutshell, wraps up the DVD. This release is recommended for fans of the film and anyone else looking to get into the independent film world.