The Shallows follows one woman on a typical day of surfing that becomes the ultimate test of survival
I had seen a few trailers for The Shallows but I was not that impressed honestly. It appeared to me as nothing more than a cheap Jaws rip off. Well I was able to see The Shallows last night and I can assure you this is not the truth. Here are my thoughts on this new thriller.
You can read the plot for The Shallows here:
“A young pro surfer named Nancy Adams (Blake Lively), a full-time student at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, is surfing at a secluded beach called “Paradise” when she becomes stranded on a giant rock 200 yards away from shore after an enormous great white shark attacks her. Now she has to find a way to get safely back to shore without getting attacked by the shark again, proving the ultimate contest of wills.”
I had fun watching The Shallows. It was not a perfect film by any means but it certainly wasn’t terrible. The plot is simple and yet it finds ways to surprise you. I am sure to many at first glance it will look like a familiar tale that has been told countless times in films. It is true The Shallows begins like many of these other movies but quickly the story takes a sharp left and it is what helps this one move away from the pack. It is honestly just a movie all about one person who has to try their best to survive a giant shark that wants them dead.
Even though The Shallows is supposed to be a thriller there is some comedy thrown in that lightens the mood in a way that makes sense and had me laughing more than once. Blake Lively gives a powerful performance here that comes off as authentic and shows how strong the human spirit can be in a seemingly hopeless situation. Yet what I liked the most about The Shallows is that it is not always clear what is going to happen next. There are scenes that you think are going to be full of death and fear that instead end up being something else entirely. It is also wonderful to have a finale that is full of action, suspense and uncertainty on how everything will turn out in the end. Overall The Shallows is not a bad film but it won’t be for everybody. You can learn more about The Shallows on this website.
The Shallows gets 6.5/10. It is a movie I enjoyed but it does have minor flaws. There are moments that come off as unrealistic but this is not too often. The threat sometimes is too smart to be believable and there are plenty of scenes that couldn’t happen in real life. If you can look past these minor flaws though this is a film you are sure to enjoy.
For those who like Blake Lively this is a movie that shouldn’t be missed. People who are in the mood for a good thriller will want to see this one. The Shallows comes out Friday. Be sure to like The Shallows on Facebook and follow the film on Twitter.
Check out this intense The Shallows trailer below: