The trailer opens with an idyllic view of a serene lakeside town at sunrise, the water glistening under a golden light. Birds chirp, children play on the shore, and fishermen cast their lines. A calming voiceover from a local radio host says, “Another beautiful day in Clearwater. Life’s perfect here… isn’t it?”
Suddenly, the mood shifts. A fisherman’s line goes taut, and the camera plunges underwater, revealing murky depths and something massive moving just out of sight. A chilling sound—a mix of a guttural growl and metallic scraping—cuts through the silence. The voiceover falters: “Or maybe not.”
Quick flashes follow: a local scientist, Dr. Marcy Hall (Florence Pugh), examines samples of the lake water under a microscope. “This isn’t natural,” she whispers, her face pale with fear. Sheriff Ray Dawson (Jake Gyllenhaal), skeptical of her warnings, brushes her off. “It’s just a freak algae bloom,” he says. But the unease in his voice betrays his doubts.
The tension escalates as townsfolk start acting strangely—skin discoloration, erratic behavior, and violent outbursts. A montage shows bizarre incidents: a fisherman dragging himself out of the water with glowing veins, a young girl screaming as the water in her bathtub begins to boil, and Marcy running through the woods as something monstrous stalks her.
Marcy’s voiceover reveals the terrifying truth: “It’s not just in the water. It is the water.” A shadowy government agency arrives in hazmat suits, warning the townspeople to evacuate, but it’s too late. The water itself seems alive, oozing out of taps and storm drains, engulfing everything in its path.
The trailer crescendos with chaotic action: Sheriff Dawson trying to protect his family, Marcy diving into the lake to uncover its horrifying source, and a massive wave crashing into the town, pulling people into its depths. The final shot lingers on a monstrous, glowing entity rising from the lake, its shape both alien and aquatic, as Marcy screams, “It’s awake!”
The screen cuts to black, and the title Something in the Water appears in dripping, glowing letters, followed by the tagline: “You can’t escape what’s already inside you.”
