Blake Lively stars as a surfer girl stranded offshore when a great white shark keeps her from returning to land in this thriller, billed as "Jaws for a new generation". Only 200 metres from survival, getting there will be the ultimate contest of wills. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan and no fewer than four different Liam Neeson films).
I’m calling it: the most epic showdown this year isn’t between grunting titanic superheroes with petty beefs to work out, but Gossip Girl alum Blake Lively and a great white shark. Not to oversell Jaume Collet-Serra’s more-than-capable abilities, but the robust, engaging B-movie carpentry of The Shallows is one of the most convincing arguments yet to discuss, as many critical circles have, the Spanish director’s body of work in auteurist terms.
Full reviewLively may have been cast primarily for her physique, but she proves a compelling heroine all the same.
Full reviewYou're gonna need a bigger Blake (and you're going to get one) in Lively's enjoyably trashy shark-survival movie, the definition of summer fun.
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[Lively] acquits herself well here, especially in the vulnerable-to-shark-attack department.
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What could have been mere summertime chum is actually one of the more cleverly constructed B-movies in quite some time.
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It's smartly done, with just enough twists and turns in the tale to avoid the film ever quite falling into I-know-exactly-how-this'll-turn-out territory.
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It's all patently ridiculous. But Blake Lively, director Collet-Serra and a digital shark show no mercy in hooking us with the B-movie tension. And we bite.
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Director Jaume Collet-Saura had the restraint to tease the monster until it absolutely has to be on screen, a handy choice considering the CGI is often shonky.
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Jaws this is not, but that didn't stop me from a few yell-out-loud, freak-out fright moments.
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If you're looking for a quick and satisfying summer thrill... then the aptly titled Blake Lively-vs.-shark thriller "The Shallows" should serve you nicely.
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