Review of The Shallows (2016) by Junelkean — 23 Jan 2018
One thing Jaume Collet-Serra is good at is to grab moviegoers in his semi-disposable popcorn thrills. From his work in "Orphan" to his "Liam-Neeson-Kicking-ass" trilogy, he has become a Hollywood vehicle for suspense movies. And this brings us to "The Shallows." So the question is, would it be worth the bite? While recovering from the death of her mother, a woman (Lively) heads to a secluded beach in Mexico for surfing. But little does she know, she's just made herself a main course for the dinner of a great white shark. Seems basic, right? Because, it is. But Collet-Serra has made sure to squeeze the most of the blue sea as both a paradise and living hell for our central protagonist. By this, the man vs. nature conflict is decently realized, anchored by astounding color palette and gorgeous camerawork.
The movie's main flaw is that, the set-up is more engaging than the pay-off. Collet-Serra and screenwriter Anthony Jaswinski build the tension steadily, until its disappointing resolution. Seems like they don't know how to end the risky situation they have entered in. Instead, their choice of conclusion is both underwhelming and almost unrealistic.
VERDICT: The Shallows sets up to such heights, but falls off to such depths.
This review of The Shallows (2016) was written by Junelkean on 23 January 2018.
The Shallows has generally received positive reviews.
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