A truly brilliant film where the main premise focuses on the terrorising of a small group by a formidable shark. When the budget for the film cannot afford to spend too much time with the watery menace then the main goal is to create tension, atmosphere and build the characters into some of cinema's greatest. Some scenes create a feeling of absolute isolation that it feels you are sat completely on your own listening to the tide, creaks and groans, waiting for the inevitable moment that the monstrous teeth will rise again from the shallow depths and fill us once more full of dread. I think this films shows a true masterclass in character development and it will always hold a place in my personal top ten of films.
Enough about Jaws, The Shallows features Blake Lively as a surfer returning to her mum's isolated Mexican beach to ride the waves in her honour. Whilst there a shark decides that she looks quite tasty and has a nibble on her leg. Thankfully there is a low tide which reveals a previously submerged rocky surface. Too far to swim to shore and with no other dry land available, she must try to survive, bleeding one her rocky solace whilst the black eyed predator circles waiting for the tide to rise once more.
Whilst occasionally enjoyable, The Shallows tries to focus on Blake's character, but she does not have that much to offer and as we spend 90% of the film with her, talking to herself and her newly adopted, shark-mauled, seagull, Steven (yes, he is named Steven Seagull...oh how I laughed!) the film seems to lack any development.
The shark in question is menacing enough, but the final scene is more ridiculous than anything from Jaws II, III, or even IV and this took away any previous malevolence that the predator had before. The seemingly tactical and persistent omnipresence that the toothed behemoth held for the majority of the film is whisked away for a few closing moments. Personally, I think this film would have ended better without the Hollywood influence.
A Saturday night film with popcorn and treats, but then again, why not just watch Jaws!?
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