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DARK WATERS

Character-driven psychological horror thriller set in a suburban house, with a disturbed female lead and a shocking twist ending, inspired by Henry James' "Turn of the Screw". Two children seem to be haunted by the ghost of their dead mother's secret lover, as seen through the eyes of a young, troubled woman hired as a nanny while their father leaves town on business. Their suburban house evolves into a nightmare world of psychological evil that seems to emanate from the back-yard pool. Hook: is there a ghost in the house, or is the nanny imagining it and going mad?

Script Excerpt
Written by:
Format:
Screenplay
Budget:
Low
Starring Roles For:
Kaitlyn Dever
Shailene Woodley
Elle Fanning
In the Vein Of:
The Orphanage
The Others
The Innocents
Posted:
09/03/2009
Updated:
04/11/2025
Author Bio:
ANTON DIETHER is the writer of the Hallmark TV miniseries Moby Dick, the highest-rated long-form show in basic cable history, nominated for five Emmys and two Golden Globe Awards; ABC-TV miniseries Cleopatra; Hallmark miniseries Stranded. Anton developed Beauty and the Beast for Fox, Life Without Father and Land of Oz for Disney, Gold Fever for Phoenix Pictures, Operation Greylord for Showtime, Lost At Sea for TNT, Skyhanger for RHI Entertainment, The Revolt for Revolt Prods.

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Contest Results:
ISA Fast Track (Quarterfinalist) [2025]
Table Read (Finalist) [2013]
Austin Fest Film (Semifinalist) [2012]
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