The Shallows

THE SHALLOWS

Director : Jaume Collet - Serra

Year : 2016

Genre : Thriller

Rating : ***

"I'm gonna draw him into the shallow waters. I'm gonna draw him in and drown him"

Quint - 'Jaws'

If Danny Boyle's Oscar nominee '127 Hours' and Andrew Traucki's Aussie horror hit 'The Reef' had a child, it would look something like 'The Shallows' - a fun and surprisingly intense survival thriller from 'Unknown' and 'Orphan' director Jaume Collet - Serra. After being savagely bitten on the leg by a great white shark, Blake Lively's surfer Nancy is left stranded on a small rock only 200 yards away from the secluded Mexican shore. With only an injured seagull for company, Nancy must use her wits and sheer determination to outwit the monstrous fish that is slowly circling her tiny patch of safety. 

It's a simple premise and director Serra, for the most part, manages to keep his audience on the edge of their seats thanks to some terrific camera work and some truly horrific moments of bloody horror. Throughout the movies lean running time, there is never any point where Nancy doesn't feel under threat and while the CGI shark itself doesn't always convince, Blake Lively's powerhouse solo performance makes the film a thrilling yet completely believable visceral experience. Whether she is talking to the aforementioned bird or facing her toothy nemesis face to face, Lively's on-screen conviction never fails to convince or enthrall - providing what actually turns out to be one of the strongest female performances of the Summer. 

It may not bring anything new to the shark-infested table but for what it is, 'The Shallows' is an intriguing, exciting, stylish and at times genuinely scary watch that manages to overcome certain narrative tropes to becomes it's own solidly crafted rollercoaster ride.