THE SHALLOWS (2016)

THE SHALLOWS (2016)

Tagline: What was once in the deep is now in the shallows

(Action, Drama, Sully) [PG-13]

It's okay, no sharks come here.

Nancy wants to get out and enjoy a surfing spot that is very remote and hard to get to. After getting a ride there and going surfing with a few other people that know about the spot, she decides to head back out alone to grab one last wave. What she doesn’t know is that a huge deadly shark on a killing spree has taken up residence in THE SHALLOWS. 

First off, there seems to be a secret formula to making shark films that this thing sort of follows. The movie opens with an attack, we see 70 minutes of swimming around and pondering your existence, then there is a final confrontation. That’s it. I don’t know how many shark movies I have done that go exactly like that. Everything from THE REQUIN to SHARK BAIT, to GREAT WHITE, and on and on. This is not to say that all shark movies do this. Pretty much anything you watch from WILD EYE is not going to go that way. This one gets referred to as a B-movie from time to time, but it’s not. It was actually put out by Columbia Pictures. 

What stands out about this movie over a field of shark flicks that seems to be growing every few months is that it’s extremely well crafted. The setting is amazing and the acting is very solid all the way around. They even cast Óscar Jaenada (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES) as Carlos and all he does is drive Nancy to the surfing spot. Nancy herself is played by Blake Lively (GREEN LANTERN) and she just kills this thing. I haven’t seen very many Black Lively films, I sort of recall watching THE AGE OF ADELINE in passing, but this one really stands out just because of how well she portrays a physically grueling situation. 

The film is complimented by a fantastic score and superb cinematography. We are also given a character we can embrace. She isn’t yelling at someone, she didn’t just get done treating someone like crap, she’s just a girl out trying to surf in a place that is historically safe. The reason this shark is in the area is also extremely plausible. A lot of shark flicks don’t bother showing you why this shark suddenly showed up and wants to chow down on 20-somethings for days on end. I also liked that even though this is 86 minutes long, it never feels bogged down by anything unnecessary. I found myself thinking of what I would have done and all this stuff, but we never really know until we are in those situations. 

I should also mention the bird in this movie is named Sully. In real life as of the making of the movie it was in a wildlife sanctuary in Australia. So we get real birds that were used in this. I am guessing the shark was CGI, but it looks great when we do see it. Some parts of this thing are not going to be for the faint of heart, but it’s definitely not super gory for a shark film. Films like SHARK BAIT are far more intense. 

Overall THE SHALLOWS is an extremely effective minimalistic shark movie that slid under my radar for almost 8 years now. What the heck? Why wasn’t I warned earlier that this little gem was just floating out there waiting to be watched? Somebody get me some answers! Just kidding. 

THE SHALLOWS gets a 5 out of 7. I would definitely watch it again.

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