The Shallows

Blake Lively, one shark and 87 minutes of pure survival adventure, as far as the genre goes, fulfilled to perfection. It's a weekend one-off that doesn't offer much, but it solidly meets expectations. Jaume Collet-Serra created a shark that is more like the one from Jaws – the kind that scares you – thank God he has freed himself from the kind of digital exercises favoured by the current trends. It's gripping and there's no bullshit. There is, of course, a digression on family values in that classic American way, but that's a given in Hollywood, even if it is directed by a Spaniard. (14/08/2016)

The Shallows is not a serious horror movie or thriller that would stay with you. It’s formally spectacular entertainment for a popcorn audience with some exciting moments, and it is full of crap, especially in the climax. It is kept above average only by the charm and acting skills of Blake Lively. In these waters, I prefer more minimalist and believable nerve-racking movies like The Reef. (16/08/2016)

Blake is kissable and the seagull is straight-up Oscar-worthy, but the whole story, despite its sympathetic length, is kind of dull and features no real surprises. A couple of times I admiringly pondered the production background, where the camera games probably end and the casual special effects begin, but Serra accepts only very sloppy screenwriting assignments into his crafted workshop. [Finale = humorous self-parodic failure. I was quite sad about all the previous efforts.] (09/06/2017)

An impactful, audiovisual thriller work that is nearly perfectly crafted in terms of the gradation of all key moments. Blake Lively effortlessly navigates through all positions, and when she emerges onto the board/whale/rock just a few centimeters away from the jaws of a shark, I thought I'd be left with the cinema armrests in my hands. Therefore, it is a pity that in the end, it doesn't deviate from going predictably over the top and you have to say goodbye to a great show as it instead turns laughable. Those genre boundaries that Jaume Collet-Serra skillfully tried to sweep away for a while are needlessly beaten up by the shallows at the very end. (11/08/2016)

This film was undoubtedly an interesting one and offered a little bit of everything. Breathtaking scenery alternated with shots of Blake Lively's curves, followed by a surfing show. An element of tension was added by a digital shark whom I would instantly nominate for Best Supporting Actor. It did unprecedented things: chewed alcoholics in half, spat up surfboards incredibly high, broke chains, chewed iron structures, and, as the highlight of the show, juggled a dead cetacean. Only its diving skills left a little to be desired, but it made me remember another animated character I have always liked: Willie E. Coyote. To sum it up, it was more than obvious how it was going to end, which took away the suspense for me, but I did have a good laugh. Shame about the needlessly stretched-out ending. (19/02/2017)