The Bay

R

Released Nov 2, 2012

1 hr. 24 min.

Horror

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

List

76%

87 Reviews

Tomatometer

43%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

The residents of a seaside Maryland community become the unfortunate hosts of mutant, waterborne parasites that take control of their minds and bodies.

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Critics Consensus

Barry Levinson's eco-horror flick cleverly utilizes familiar found-footage methods in service of a gruesome yet atmospheric chiller.

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Dan R

Found footage horror films can vary in quality but 2012's 'The Bay' is one of the best. And the most grounded. SYNOPSIS: 'Chaos breaks out in a small Maryland town after an ecological disaster occurs.' An eco horror film might not sound like it's your thing but 'The Bay' manages to merge gruesome horror with some strong social commentary. It's stupidly suspenseful, especially once you get an idea on what's coming, and unlike a lot of found footage films it actually makes some sort of sense. The special effects are excellent throughout and at no point are you made to feel like anything you see is fake. This could be real. A film made on this budget has no right to be this good. But it is. It's maybe the best found footage film ever. 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

Gaming U

Movie is awesome as heck

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Audience Member

From the producers of 'Paranormal Activity' and 'Insidious' and director Barry Levinson comes a new found footage horror movie about the terrors of environmental ignorance What lies in the bay? Something we should ignore or actually address? A small Maryland town unknowingly becomes the victim of an ecological disaster Taking place in Claridge, a seaside Chesapeake Bay town nestled on Maryland's Eastern Shore, thrives on its water supply, both from tourism and from how it benefits the chicken industry However, the chicken farm has come under fire from some citizens who are concerned about the quality of the bay due to the dumping of chicken excrement and other toxins into the water A documentary film crew lead by reporter Donna Thompson goes to investigate this issue and the results end up being more horrific as we see her recounting what lead to this It seems to have begun with two oceanographers coming across something eating its way into the sealife A parasitic outbreak is then engulfing everybody with symptoms being lesions, blisters, aches, vomiting blood, organs being eaten up, and death Wildlife such as birds and fish were the first of many casualties affected Events were covered by the media but the real story was never leaked to the public until now This is a gruesome yet very atmospheric chiller of a horror movie in this genre of filmmaking It's a type of fear that makes people question the validity of what's actually happening so naturally theories are thrown around, has the residents wonder if recreational activities like swimming is even safe The movie does a good job being suspenseful, making hearing audio bits much scarier without seeing it, producing a chilling score to boost things, and enhancing our fears of ecological nature These parasites are unpredictable with the damage they cause And considering right now we've been through a real pandemic it's very nerve wracking being unclear how much an outbreak can evolve without us knowing If only the red tape didn't get in the way and silence wasn't the result many of these townsfolk could've been saved ‘The Bay' still works thanks to some clever camerawork, interspersed footage, and tons of shivering, riveting scenes of how things go south so quickly The combination of social commentary and body horror is a good mixture that will make you feel uneasy, certainly did the job for me Eco-activists and found footage enthusiasts will get their fill It manages to deliver its message and entertain at the same time

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

Eye C

But it's fiction right… RIGHT?!?!?!?!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

Full Review

Emilliano S

One of the best found footage film. Its story line is likely based on science logic which makes it more interesting to watch

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Elle W

An effective use of found footage, to heighten the realism and suspense.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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Barry Levinson

Director

Will Rogers

Alex

Kristen Connolly

Stephanie

Kether Donohue

Donna Thompson

Frank Deal

Mayor John Stockman

Stephen Kunken

Dr. Jack Abrams

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40%

21%

Storage 24

75%

37%

Splice

TRAILER

for Splice

80%

50%

Crimes of the Future

TRAILER

for Crimes of the Future

55%

47%

Subject Two

60%

77%

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

This disgustingly suspenseful yarn got under my skin, and I kept shivering long after I left the theatre.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 24, 2022

Full Review

David Gritten

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Gruesome but oddly riveting.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 1, 2013

Full Review

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Seeking to merge the conventions of found-footage horror with targeted social commentary, the film does its job with some skill ...

Rated: 3/5

Mar 1, 2013

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Falls short of expectations both as a found-footage horror movie and as a creature feature.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

When, after the film and a web search or two, audiences begin to read about the real problems of Chesapeake Bay, Levinson’s intent becomes apparent.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 21, 2022

Full Review

Jason Adams

My New Plaid Pants

An effective little chiller. Levinson burrows right under your skin (har har) with a mounting squickiness

Jul 2, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

The residents of a seaside Maryland community become the unfortunate hosts of mutant, waterborne parasites that take control of their minds and bodies.

Director: Barry Levinson
Executive Producer: Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Jason Sosnoff, Colin Strause, Greg Strause
Screenwriter: Michael Wallach
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: Haunted Movies, Automatik Entertainment
Rating: R (Disturbing Violent Content|Bloody Images|Language)
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2014

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