In the 2016 horror film titled “The Shallows“, Blake Lively encounters a dangerous predicament involving a shark. However, it’s not just the shark that instills fear in this movie. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, The Shallows features Lively as Nancy Adams, a surfer who gets attacked by a shark and finds herself trapped on a small coral reef. Due to her injured leg, she can’t swim back to the shore that is only a short distance away. As a result, Nancy is forced to battle for her life against the relentless pursuit of the shark.
In “The Shallows,” praise has been given for its clever employment of both the shark and Lively’s acting in the thrilling survival tale on screen. Unlike typical Sharkploitation horror films, however, the fear in this movie doesn’t primarily come from the shark. Though it plays a crucial role in making the film scary as a horror production, “The Shallows” achieves its success because of the ocean itself.
The Shallows Bases Its Horror In Being Trapped At Sea
In “The Shallows,” the shark is undeniably a chilling presence, but it’s the ocean that makes it so menacing. The movie masterfully keeps Nancy, played by Lively, stranded just out of reach from the shore. Being stuck in this predicament with a relentless shark on her tail presents numerous challenges for Nancy, as she struggles to find food, shelter, and clean water amidst the coral reef where she’s trapped.
In the movie “The Shallows”, Nancy’s survival becomes a struggle against the ruthless and treacherous ocean environment. Dehydration, starvation, severe injuries, and exposure are constant threats she faces while stranded on the coral reef. With no means of calling for help, her only hope lies in being spotted by beachgoers who may or may not hear or see her. In this context, the ocean serves as the menacing antagonist that confines Nancy, adding an additional layer of terror to the already formidable shark.
The Shallows Uses The Shark Like Jaws Does
From the perspective of a devoted cinephile, I’d say that in the gripping film “The Shallows,” the shark remains largely elusive for most of the movie. Mostly, we and Nancy, the protagonist, catch glimpses of its fin slicing through the water as it approaches her, with occasional hints of its underwater silhouette. There are only a few brief instances where the shark is seen attacking other surfers on-screen. However, the grand reveal of the shark in all its terrifying glory doesn’t come until Nancy’s climactic confrontation with her maritime adversary. In this regard, “The Shallows” employs a strategy similar to that of the classic “Jaws,” where the shark is primarily portrayed as an unseen terror whose presence lingers ominously throughout the movie.
Due to the technical challenges faced during the filming of the mechanical shark for Jaws, at sea, Steven Spielberg decided to minimize its appearances in the movie until the climax. This strategy proved to be a brilliant move as it made the movie more terrifying, allowing the audience’s imagination to fill in the terror lurking beneath the surface of the water.
In a contemporary twist reminiscent of “Jaws”, The Shallows skillfully maintains an atmosphere of constant tension by subtly hinting at the shark’s presence without overexposure, keeping both Nancy and viewers on edge. Leveraging advanced CGI technology, the film showcases the shark’s swift movements and predatory instincts when it appears, creating a visually stunning and impactful display. Furthermore, the film delivers a striking finale as Nancy cleverly lures the shark into swimming into underwater rebar, resulting in its impalement and a memorable demise.
The Shallows Shows The Power Of Horror Movie Minimalism
In the survival thriller titled “The Shallows,” nature serves as a rich source of ingredients for the filmmakers, keeping viewers on edge. The movie’s location, a beach, coral reef patch, and a floating buoy, create an engaging backdrop. By skillfully positioning Nancy against the raw power of these elements, “The Shallows” demonstrates its cinematic prowess. It judiciously employs CGI, puppeteering, and camera trickery, using them strategically to maximize their impact. Moreover, it wisely avoids overuse of such techniques at times, a trend often seen in shark-themed horror films, much like the equally compelling “47 Meters Down.
Positioning Nancy within her current oceanic locale, the movie “The Shallows” maintains a persistent tension and foreboding atmosphere. This is achieved by repeatedly showcasing the safety of the shore, yet keeping it just out of reach, creating a haunting “almost there, but not quite” sensation. Although the shark serves as a significant obstacle preventing Nancy from returning to safety, “The Shallows” demonstrates its prowess as an exceptional horror film by transforming the ocean into a subtly terrifying entity. Remarkably, when the movie finally unleashes its shark in full force, it proves to be a satisfying payoff, considering the restraint with which the relentless deep-sea beast has been portrayed on screen.
The Shallows is available on STARZ.
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2025-01-12 23:09