'Treading Water' Review: A Strong, Hard-hitting and Real Feature Debut Feature From Gino Evans
- Dan Bremner
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
By Dan Bremner - April 23, 2025
“Following his release from prison, Danny struggles with addiction and intrusive thoughts. He reconnects with school friend, Laura, who is equally trapped in her own choices.”
I’m a sucker for addiction dramas, Trainspotting rewired my brain from an early age and Requiem for a Dream still hits hard with its bombastic bleakness, so Treading Water pinged my radar when it hit the BFI London Film Festival in 2024. Missed it there, schedules clashing, but was itching to see if this low-budget British indie could deliver. It’s not a genre titan, but it’s got teeth as director Gino Evans and star Joe Gill stake a claim as names to watch. Treading Water is raw, messy, and gripping, even if it stumbles over with repetition and an overstretched runtime.
It's a gritty gut-punch from a debut filmmaker. Evans, new to the game, dives into Manchester’s underbelly, and it’s clear he’s not here to glamorize addiction. That anticipation paid off mostly, there’s a spark here, a rough-hewn honesty that feels like a promise, though it’s not without flaws that nag like a bad comedown. Evans keeps it empathetic, Danny’s not a villain, just a guy making rotten moves in a tough spot. You root for him without excusing the mess, a balance that keeps you invested. The camera stays tight, catching every flinch and faded hope through these people, with a lo-fi indie pulse that screams British grit. It’s not polished, but it feels authentic and oozes in grounded grit.
Joe Gill’s Danny is the heart, a freshly sprung ex-con, wrestling heroin’s pull and a mind that won’t quit with explosive flashes of his intrusive thoughts that capture his self-destructive nature. He’s magnetic, all frayed edges and quiet storms, making you lean in even when you want to look away. Becky Bowe’s Laura matches him, her own cage of choices drawn into a harrowing look . The ensemble of housemates, counsellors and Laura’s abusive boyfriend adds texture, though some fade into the haze. It's very much Gill’s show as he's in almost every scene and he carries it quite incredibly.
Danny’s spiral hits hard as his self-destruction is a slow car crash, gritty and real, shot in Manchester’s stark corners. The film doesn’t flinch, showing dope-sick tremors and OCD loops that claw at him as he wrestles with his own mind. It’s not as visceral as Trainspotting’s toilet dives, but it’s grounded, every relapse and bad call feeling like it could happen down the street. That realism stings, making the stakes feel genuine.
The trouble’s in the stretch, it’s too long, circling the same lows over its 121 minutes. Scenes repeat, Danny’s loops feeling more numbing than intended, and it drags what could’ve been taut. The rawness carries it, but tighter cuts would’ve sharpened the knife. Still, it never loses that low-budget soul, wearing its rough edges like a badge through this tale of a man who is a mess of mental health issues and crashing addiction.
Treading Water is a strong debut, hard-hitting and real, with Gill’s stellar turn holding it tight. It’s not the genre’s peak, but it’s a bold step for Evans and crew as they craft a mostly gripping British indie drama here. A gruelling and slow watch at times, but does make for a compelling look into the lead’s mental state.
Treading Water releases in select cinemas April 25
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