The Shallows
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While surfing on a secluded beach, Nancy finds herself in the feeding grounds of a great white shark. Though stranded only 200 yards from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of her ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude.
What critics thought
Critics were mostly won over by Blake Lively's physically committed, laser-focused performance, which carries the film through its lean runtime. The bigger divide was over the screenplay: some found the stripped-down premise thrilling enough, while others felt the forced backstory and half-baked themes cluttered what should have been a pure survival machine. Director Collet-Serra's execution drew similar splits — propulsive and effective to fans, blunt and sledgehammer-obvious to detractors.
“immensely entertaining millennial B-Movie, made for summertime viewing”
Richard Roeper·Chicago Sun-Times
“Anthony Jaswinski's screenplay bogs down this no-brainer survival premise ("get off the rock and don't die") with needless backstory and inchoate themes. Can't a heroine just survive a vicious shark attack without also having to overcome a family trauma and make a decision about whether or not she wants to be a doctor?”
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky·The A.V. Club
“Jaume Collet-Serra's sledgehammer-style direction, Anthony Jaswinski's intelligence-insulting screenplay, and Marco Beltrami's misguided musical score, The Shallows is impossible to endorse.”
Staci Layne Wilson·Dread Central
Genres
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Jaume Collet-SerraDirector
Blake LivelyNancy Adams
Óscar JaenadaCarlos
Brett CullenFather
Janelle BaileyMother
Sedona LeggeChloe Adams
Pablo CalvaCarlo's Son
Chelsea MoodyYoung Mom
Sully SeagullSully 'Steven' Seagull
Marco BeltramiComposer
Flavio Martínez LabianoCinematographyThe Shallows
While surfing on a secluded beach, Nancy finds herself in the feeding grounds of a great white shark. Though stranded only 200 yards from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of her ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude.
What critics thought
Critics were mostly won over by Blake Lively's physically committed, laser-focused performance, which carries the film through its lean runtime. The bigger divide was over the screenplay: some found the stripped-down premise thrilling enough, while others felt the forced backstory and half-baked themes cluttered what should have been a pure survival machine. Director Collet-Serra's execution drew similar splits — propulsive and effective to fans, blunt and sledgehammer-obvious to detractors.
“immensely entertaining millennial B-Movie, made for summertime viewing”
Richard Roeper·Chicago Sun-Times
“Anthony Jaswinski's screenplay bogs down this no-brainer survival premise ("get off the rock and don't die") with needless backstory and inchoate themes. Can't a heroine just survive a vicious shark attack without also having to overcome a family trauma and make a decision about whether or not she wants to be a doctor?”
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky·The A.V. Club
“Jaume Collet-Serra's sledgehammer-style direction, Anthony Jaswinski's intelligence-insulting screenplay, and Marco Beltrami's misguided musical score, The Shallows is impossible to endorse.”
Staci Layne Wilson·Dread Central
Genres
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Jaume Collet-SerraDirectorBlake LivelyNancy AdamsÓscar JaenadaCarlosBrett CullenFatherJanelle BaileyMotherSedona LeggeChloe AdamsPablo CalvaCarlo's SonChelsea MoodyYoung MomSully SeagullSully 'Steven' SeagullMarco BeltramiComposerFlavio Martínez LabianoCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy