“The Shallows,” released June 24, 2016, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Blake Lively, is the story of a young surfer who is essentially hunted down by a shark.
I went to see “The Shallows” last weekend, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the movie. For a 90 minute film about a surfer stuck 200 yards from shore and a shark who is determined to make her his next meal, the movie made the audience watch in anticipation every time Blake Lively's character got near the water.
Spoiler alert-- don't continue past this point if you want to avoid spoilers.
Acting: 9/10
Blake Lively did a wonderful job acting terrified, but persistent. Her character, Nancy, starts off as a relatable girl, sitting on her phone while in the car. Her driver picks on her for looking at pictures on her phone while all the beautiful scenery is around her, and then a friendly conversation ensues where Nancy attempts to use basic Spanish to communicate. Nancy gets to the beach and surfs with two guys she meets. Lively's role changes drastically when the two guys head home, and she floats towards a dying whale in the water. The whale, the shark's meal, is just the start of things. Since Nancy has entered the shark's hunting grounds, the shark attacks her, severely injuring her leg. For a moment, I really believed that girl had her leg chomped on by a shark. Lively conveys pain incredibly believably as she swims to safety on a nearby rock, and as she tends to her wound. Throughout the movie, Lively keeps the viewers emotionally invested in the well-being of her character.
Dialogue: 5/10
This is where the movie lacked most. Of course, “The Shallows” isn't a dialogue-filled movie, and that's for a reason. But the dialogue that is present leaves a lot to be desired. There is a scene on the beach when Nancy video chats with her sister and her dad, and the dialogue is incredibly stiff and awkward considering we are supposed to believe Nancy and her sister are close.
Effects: 8/10
There were a couple scenes with a close up of the CGI shark lunging at the camera for a bite. One can easily tell that the shark is a CGI shark, however that could have been predicted before they even showed the shark. The digital work on the shark was quite well-done, and it looked fairly realistic.
As for any gore effects, Nancy's wound was definitely cringe-worthy. I was actually grossed out. Also, according to IMDB, Nancy hits her face on the buoy during the climax of the movie and gets a bloody nose-- this bloody nose was real, as Blake Lively actually hit her face on the buoy. 10/10 to Blake Lively for being a trooper.
Cinematography: 7/10
If you want to see a bunch of close ups of a bikini-clad Blake Lively, this movie is for you. The first 15 minutes included a lot of shots of Lively getting ready to go out in the water, and paddling out into deeper waters. I don't exactly love the style with which they did these scenes.
As for the rest of the movie, Collet-Serra made a great calling in having the shots dive under the water in high suspense moments. Every time the camera went under water, or every time it focused on the surface of the water, I caught myself staring unblinkingly at the screen.
Other comments
The behavior of the shark in the movie is incredibly unrealistic. Great White Sharks typically do not attack humans because we are not their natural prey, and sharks are even less likely to circle a person stranded on a rock. If you can get past the fact that the movie isn't realistic (most movies aren't), it truly is enjoyable.
I just feel obligated to add that, while Nancy is stranded on the rock 200 yards from shore, there is also an injured seagull who keeps her company. This seagull was probably my favorite thing in the movie, but that's only because I found it super adorable. There was a scene where Nancy holds the bird to fix its dislocated wing, and I thought she was going to throw the bird in the water to distract the shark or something, and I was genuinely afraid for that bird.
Seagull gets a 10/10.
Overall: 7.5/10
I recommend seeing “The Shallows” while it's in theaters—it's one of those movies that wouldn't have the same impact on a home TV. Ultimately, this movie was a surprise, and is a definite summer must-see.
