Freshwater Assassins (1947): cast, story & where to watch
1947 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1947, Freshwater Assassins is a notable film directed by Jean Painlevé.
What it’s about. In a freshwater pond, it's "eat or be eaten." A dragonfly larva eats a midge; a water beetle larva eats a damselfly larva. Snail larvae grow. A beetle larva eats one. Up close, we see the eating apparatus of a damselfly larva—with a retractable hook beneath mandibles. Some creatures bite and chew, others suck. A water beetle larva holds on to its prey, injects a poison that turns the victim's insides to soup, and then sucks it dry. We watch one eat a damselfly larvae and then another water beetle larva. Some have ingenious ways to camouflage themselves, like the water scorpion, and to breathe air while hunting under water. Caddisfly larvae hide in debris, then eat.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, Freshwater Assassins has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Freshwater Assassins page.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Freshwater Assassins (1947)?
- In US, Freshwater Assassins is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Freshwater Assassins worth watching?
- Freshwater Assassins holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- When was Freshwater Assassins released?
- Freshwater Assassins was released in 1947.