lady in the water is a 2006 american fantasy psychological thriller film written, produced, and directed by m. night shyamalan and starring paul giamatti and bryce dallas howard. the film's plot concerns the superintendent of a philadelphia apartment complex who discovers a young woman in the swimming pool. gradually, he and his neighbors learn that she is a water nymph (or narf) whose life is in danger from a vicious, wolf-like, mystical creature called a scrunt that tries to keep her from returning to her watery "blue world." this is shyamalan's first film in which he appeared in a significant role rather than a short cameo.