‘Looking Through Water’: Maybe Michael Douglas’s Last Movie

“Looking Through Water” reminds us that in tribal life, the grandfather and grandson were considered spiritual brothers. Neither of them understand the father.

Grandpa William (Michael Douglas) and grandson Kyle (Walker Scobell), in “Looking Through Water.” Good Deed Entertainment

NR | 1h 47m | Drama | 2025

“Looking Through Water” is based on the books “Looking Through Water” and “Catching Big Fish” by Bob Rich, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Directed by Roberto Sneider, it explores classic father-son difficulties down through three generations of successful men in one family.

It also captures the toxic resentment that can build up between brothers, the healing that is possible though reconciliation, and why boys need grandfathers who can take them out on fishing boats and pass down the wisdom of their life experience.

Grandpa

“Looking Through Water” tells the story of William McKay (Michael Douglas) whose daughter drops his sullen, insubordinate, and disrespectful grandson off at the dock for a fishing trip with grandad. Grandson Kyle (Walker Scobell) came home recently with a black eye and a split lip after getting beat up at school. Kyle’s in no mood to fish.

Kyle (Walker Scobell, L) and William (Michael Douglas) go fishing, in “Looking Through Water.” Good Deed Entertainment

After some wheedling, cajoling, and with a twinkle in his eye, his grandfather manages to coax Kyle into the boat and soon establishes a deal. In exchange for information about the black eye, William tells the story about the scar he himself has, above his right eye. Back when he was a young corporate raider (a lot like Gordon Gecko, the character Michael Douglas played in 1987’s “Wall Street“), he nearly blew his head off with a dueling pistol.

We flash back to the younger William (Michael Stahl-David). Directly prior to receiving a prestigious award, he gets a phone call telling him that his trusted friend and business partner is not only secretly involved in a hostile takeover attempt of his company, but is also sleeping with his fiancée. Storming out of the posh catered affair in a rage and taking the aforementioned gifted dueling pistols with him, he goes home, drinks heavily, falls off a desk, and grazes his skull in an inebriated, botched suicide attempt.

Well, of course that’s pretty dang interesting to a 14-year-old. Kyle wants to know more, but it’s quid pro quo, and now he’s got be forthcoming with some information about that busted lip of his. Turns out, his best friend beat him up because Kyle’s dad was sleeping with the best friend’s mom.

Great Grandpa

Back to grandpa William. No sooner did he come to in a puddle of his own blood, he gets a call from Leo, his estranged father (David Morse) whom he hasn’t spoken to in 10 years.

Leo tells William that he’s got to get on his Lear jet and fly to Placencia, Belize, to help him out. He needs a son to take part in a father-son fishing competition happening there. Still bleeding and still drunk, William reluctantly gets on his private plane and jets to Central America.

Michael Stahl-David as Young William and David Morse as his father, Leo, in “Looking Through Water.” Good Deed Entertainment

Reconciliations

Over the course of the fishing tournament, Leo and William finally have a chance to have those inevitable, long-needed father-son conversations.

Leo’s macho fishing guide is highly annoying to William, but much fishing is done. The rules are that three different types of fish: a permit, a bonefish, and a tarpon must be caught-and-released, and there’s a confrontation between the highly stubborn William and a tenacious bull shark.

(L–R) William (Michael Stahl-David),  Leo (David Morse) and Cole (Cameron Douglas) go fishing, in “Looking Through Water.” Good Deed Entertainment

The film ratchets up to a rather dramatic climax, but all of Williams’ adventures are such that they reflect young Kyle’s life back to him. And William hands down the fishing lessons Leo gave him, to Kyle, who catch-and-releases a fine rainbow trout.

“Looking Through Water” reminds me of a tribal wisdom: In tribal life, the grandfather and the grandson were considered to be spiritual brothers. Why? They share a bond, in that neither of them are ever able to understand the father.

Grandpa William (Michael Douglas) and grandson Kyle (Walker Scobell), in “Looking Through Water.” Good Deed Entertainment

“Looking Through Water” also parallels the movie “White Bird,” starring Helen Mirren, where hearing his grandmother’s history of dealing with Nazis helps her bullying grandson to change his ways.

“Looking Through Water” demonstrates the destructive power of grudges and resentments, the need for open and honest communication in families, especially between the menfolk, and especially the guidance of the younger males by their elders.

This may be the last film of Michael Douglas’s prolific career, but even at age 81, it’s his still-present star power that carries the day.

William (Michael Douglas) in “Looking Through Water.” Good Deed Entertainment

Promotional poster for “Looking Through Water.” Good Deed Entertainment

Looking Through Water opened exclusively in theaters nationwide on September 12.

‘Looking Through Water’ Director: Roberto Sneider Starring: Michael Douglas, Michael Stahl-David, David Morse, Ximena Romo, Walker Scobell MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: one hour, 47 minutes Release Date: Sept. 12, 2025 Rating: 3 stars out of 5

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