The Ebb-Tide Poster

The Ebb-Tide 1998

★ 6.33 votes102 min📅 1998-03-29

Set against the restless blue horizons of the Pacific, *The Ebb-Tide (1998)* follows a once-proud sea captain whose fortunes have sunk so low he'll risk everything on a derelict tub carrying secrets even the crew can't read.

Director: Nicholas Renton

Cast

Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane
Capt. Chisholm
Steven Mackintosh
Steven Mackintosh
Swanson
Chris Barnes
Bunch
Meera Simhan
Meera Simhan
Kuria
Nigel Terry
Nigel Terry
Ellstrom
Jude Akuwudike
Jude Akuwudike
Fakeeva
Sean Scanlan
Sean Scanlan
Strickland
Simon Donald
Dr Lewis
Michael Mellinger
Michael Mellinger
Victor Kleist
Yomi A. Michaels
Taveeta

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Ebb-Tide (1998) about?

A desperate sea captain takes a shady cargo job on a barely seaworthy boat, only to be marooned with a crew of strangers on a deserted island ruled by a lunatic mariner and his silent companion. As supplies dwindle and tempers fray, trust erodes faster than the tide.

Who directed The Ebb-Tide?

The film was directed by Nicholas Renton, who shaped its tense atmosphere through lean storytelling and moody visuals.

Who stars in The Ebb-Tide?

The cast includes Robbie Coltrane as the down-on-his-luck captain, alongside Steven Mackintosh, Chris Barnes, Meera Simhan, Nigel Terry, and Jude Akuwudike.

Is The Ebb-Tide (1998) worth watching?

With no IMDb rating to rely on, *The Ebb-Tide* is a tightly wound adventure that should appeal to fans of character-driven maritime thrillers. Its lean runtime and atmospheric dread make it a quick but memorable watch for genre enthusiasts.

How long is The Ebb-Tide?

The movie runs 102 minutes—just under two hours of escalating tension.

About The Ebb-Tide (1998) — Nautical suspense on a crumbling voyage to an uncharted doom

Set against the restless blue horizons of the Pacific, *The Ebb-Tide (1998)* follows a once-proud sea captain whose fortunes have sunk so low he'll risk everything on a derelict tub carrying secrets even the crew can't read. Director Nicholas Renton crafts an ominous maritime thriller that blends adventure with creeping dread, steering its ensemble—led by Robbie Coltrane's grizzled captain—into a vortex of bad decisions and stranger company. Once the vessel cracks apart on a forgotten isle, the survivors face an even more terrifying truth: the island's sole inhabitant is a mad ex-mariner holding a mute woman whose loyalty may hinge on a blade.

The film's themes of hubris, survival, and the unknowable depths of human nature unfold in taut, sun-baked scenes that recall Conrad and Stevenson through a late-90s lens. With a runtime that crackles like a mainsail in a squall, *The Ebb-Tide* delivers 102 minutes of nautical suspense that lingers long after the credits roll.