Film review: The Shallows
Film & TV
“What was once in the deep is now in the shallows” warns the trailer for this latest shark-versus-swimmer thriller starring Blake Lively. So just how scary is it?
On a pilgrimage to rediscover herself, adventurous surfer Nancy (Lively) travels abroad to locate a secret beach in Mexico beloved by her late mother. At home among the seclusion and pristine beauty of the beach, she is soon chasing waves – but her perfect holiday is brought to a brutal halt when she is attacked by a shark.
Seriously injured, Nancy finds herself stranded on a small patch of rocks just 200 metres from shore with the great white circling her and the tide quickly rising quickly.
Directed by Spanish filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra and shot at several locations across New South Wales and Queensland, The Shallows features breathtaking scenic coastlines, pristine beaches and untamed tropical forests.
The film has a small supporting cast, but most seen for mere minutes: Oscar Jaenada makes the most of his screen time as Nancy’s guide Carlos, while unusual cast member Sully the Seagull brings some unexpected comedy as “Steven Seagull” – an injured bird that becomes Nancy’s unlikely companion on the rocks.
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However, it is Lively (The Age of Adaline and TV’s Gossip Girl) who carries the story, and she rises to the challenge well, transforming into a determined survivor as the plot unfolds.
Despite the size of the menacing shark, the audience rarely sees it in full. A glimpse of a shadow or fin, or the subtle movement of a wave provide the only clue to its presence. The space between sightings also varies, heightening the tension. And all this makes for a more terrifying experience when the shark does attack.
With its simplistic plot and single-character focus, The Shallows is certainly not the most challenging or complex film, but it is an intense viewing experience – one that will leave some viewers seriously reconsidering their next trip to the beach.
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