The Shallows

The Shallows is qualitatively comparable to Deep Blue Sea and The Reef, although each film is a little different, but they all have one thing in common, a fight to the death against a bloodthirsty shark. While both of the aforementioned are about a bunch of multiple people, The Shallows is essentially a one-woman-show (+ one loyal seagull), so we only have time to focus on Blake Lively, whom I find exceedingly likeable, and I was really rooting for her. The film definitely benefits from a shorter running time, and since the tension is spread out just right, it doesn't have a chance to get boring. The shark was quite well done, as was the dead whale, whose incorporation into the plot was imaginative. All in all, a decent survival drama that gets a bit more wild towards the end in terms of plot progression, but what the hell, it is a pleasantly suspenseful eighty minutes. (10/09/2016)

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)

There hasn't been a better shark horror film since Jaws. Jaume Collet-Serra has moved from action to our favourite genre and it suits him very well. Blake Lively is an amazing choice, and Serra knows very well that horror fans are mostly men so we get full close-ups of her amazing body, which any guy will enjoy. Aside from her body we also get to enjoy some excellent underwater shots which are breathtaking, the guy has an eye for detail and it's a joy to watch the natural wonders. The Shallows has a very dynamic pace, gripping and escalating tension, decent twists, Blake reacts logically and the shark looks perfect himself. Those who have respect for sharks, as I do, will enjoy the effective scares. A one woman survival show like no other, I enjoyed this ride perfectly. I praise the finale as taut as my neighbor's thong and the minimal use of CGI. 80% (13/08/2016)

The Hungry vs. Food series has another film with a dismal and unrealistic ending (that spoils the atmosphere for effect alone), but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t work as a whole. Also the whale was a good idea. The tastefully tanned Blake Lively was the main asset of The Shallows from the start and in this respect the heroine doesn’t disappoint. In terms of story, it’s a variation on Gravity and the inner dramas pointlessly protract the plot. Seagull is probably the only really nice character in the movie. The horror nuances are masterly, including the shocks. Collet-Serra knows how to make an eye-catching movie, but I prefer those with an R-rating and with Neeson in the role of daddy. (16/08/2016)

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)