It's rare to see a trailer that feels like a punch you didn't see coming. Good Deed Entertainment's Looking Through Water—hitting theaters September 12, 2025—does just that. The first glimpse of this family drama, starring Michael Stahl-David, David Morse, Cameron Douglas, Walker Scobell, and Michael Douglas, is a quiet storm. It's not loud or flashy. It's raw. Real. A story about fathers and sons, broken bonds, and the kind of redemption that sneaks up on you over a fishing rod in Belize. I watched it twice. Once to feel, once to think. Both times, it stuck.
The Trailer: Sun, Water, and Wounds
The trailer opens on Michael Stahl-David as William McKay, a New York exec whose polished life cracks open at a gala. Betrayal. Infidelity. A corporate knife in the back. You can see the weight in his eyes—Stahl-David's got this knack for playing men who are one bad day from unraveling. Then comes the call from his estranged father, Leo (David Morse, all gravel and grit), inviting him to a father-son fishing tournament in San Pedro, Belize. William shows up, still in a tux, reeking of scotch. It's a bold image—city slicker lost in the sun-drenched tropics, pride warring with pain.
Cut to the present, where an older William (Michael Douglas, understated and weary) recounts this story to his grandson Kyle (Walker Scobell, fresh off Percy Jackson). The fishing trip becomes a bridge across generations, a way to heal old scars. Cameron Douglas, as Cole, a fishing guide with his own secrets, adds another layer—his real-life connection to Michael Douglas gives their scenes an unspoken depth. The trailer weaves these timelines with care, using the water as a metaphor without shoving it in your face. It's subtle. Almost too subtle for a summer crowd chasing explosions.
Director Roberto Sneider (You're Killing Me Susana) knows how to let silence speak. The trailer's pacing—slow burns of dialogue, quick flashes of conflict—mirrors the emotional tides of Bob Rich's 2015 novel. “I'm 75 years old, I just want to fish,” Morse growls. Stahl-David snaps back: “There are more important things in life, father.” Then Morse, quiet as a blade: “Happiness is on that list.” Oof. That one hit. It's the kind of exchange that makes you lean forward, wondering if they'll ever find their way back to each other.
Why It Matters: A Family Affair, On and Off Screen
This isn't just another drama. It's personal. Michael Douglas, 80, and his son Cameron, 46, share the screen for the first time since 2003's It Runs in the Family, which also starred Kirk and Diana Douglas. That real-life lineage adds a layer of authenticity to Looking Through Water. You can't fake that kind of history. Michael's taking a step back from acting after this—maybe his last role, per some reports—so there's a weight to his performance, a sense of finality. Cameron, meanwhile, is carving his own path after roles in Wire Room and The Crowded Room. Their chemistry, strained and tender, feels like it's pulled from life, not just a script.
The film's journey to the screen is its own story. Originally titled Blood Knot, it was set to be directed by Howard Deutch until scheduling conflicts brought in Sneider in May 2023. Filming spanned Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Belize, and Mexico City, wrapping in July 2023. Good Deed Entertainment snapped up the rights in June 2025, eyeing a late summer release. It's a gamble for a small Ohio-based studio better known for Loving Vincent, but their knack for picking heartfelt projects shines here. The script, penned by Rowdy Herrington (Road House) and Zach Dean (Fast X), leans into the novel's themes of forgiveness without getting preachy. It's a tightrope walk, and the trailer suggests they've nailed it.
Cultural Ripples: Why Fishing, Why Now?
Fishing isn't just a backdrop here—it's the pulse. The sport, often a stand-in for patience and connection, carries cultural weight in American storytelling. Think A River Runs Through It or even The Old Man and the Sea. Looking Through Water taps into that tradition but flips it, making the water a mirror for fractured families rather than a solitary quest. In a world obsessed with hustle, there's something radical about a story that says, “Slow down. Talk. Heal.” It's not a blockbuster. It's not trying to be. But in a year where we're drowning in sequels and CGI, this feels like a lifeboat.
The trailer also hints at a broader trend: generational dramas are back. Films like The Holdovers or Aftersun have reminded us that small, human stories can hit harder than any superhero slugfest. Looking Through Water fits that mold, with its focus on fathers and sons, past and present. It's not perfect—the trailer's editing feels a touch uneven, and I'm skeptical about how they'll balance the two timelines without losing focus. But the cast? Stellar. Morse's quiet intensity, Stahl-David's raw edge, Scobell's wide-eyed hope—they're all in top form. And Ximena Romo, as the doctor who softens William's edges, looks like a breakout.
A Personal Note
I saw It Runs in the Family at TIFF back in '03. It was messy, sure, but the Douglas clan's real-life dynamic made it unforgettable. Watching this trailer, I felt that same pull—a family laying it all bare, flaws and all. As a festival regular, I've seen plenty of dramas try to fake this kind of heart. Most fail. This one might not. I'm curious to see how Sneider handles the novel's quiet moments, especially after his work on You're Killing Me Susana leaned more comedic. If he nails the tone, this could be a sleeper hit at next year's festivals—maybe Sundance or TIFF again.
So, mark your calendars for September 12, 2025. Watch the trailer. Let it sink in. Then tell me what you think—because I'm already itching to argue about that ending. Share your thoughts on Filmofilia.com or hit me up on X. Are we ready for a fishing trip that actually means something? I think so. Maybe.
