Review of The Shallows (2016) by Cameron S — 25 Jun 2017

I saw the Shallows for what it is and tried not to compare it with the popular Jaws series. From that realistic perspective I think it worked well to keep me engaged. Then there is Blake Lively in a bikini being offered up to a predator no less than a great white shark. These two elements alone would be enough to keep one quite engaged. The scenery is exquisite with great cimetography and camera work. Underwater scenes as they surfboard and catch some giant waves/swells all while keeping you guessing if the eminent attack would happen. Yet in the back of your mind you know she has to survive while the others don't. Monotonous one scene movie in parts and only four people outside of the ones on her cell phone. Simple story line but effective for the most part. Nice touches with seagulls, whale carcass making it a feeding ground and giant temporary shelter/raft and rockscapes. Close ups with the killer shark attacking her were intense and realistic with it circling the rock she was on. Graphic shots of her leg wound and her treating it variedly tourniquetting and sowing creatively was intense as well. The element of surprise and suspense was gripping enough and done effectively.

After all that her loyal wounded seagull friend/companion also survives the whole ordeal. Seeing it greeting her in a delirious washed up state at the conclusion was quite a refreshing and relieving moment.

Nice movie with a lot more pluses than minuses. Only thing missing was the heightened musical score prior to an attack and the tolling of the bells as in what we got used to in the Jaws series.