"The Shallows" review

The unfortunate fate awaiting any movie post 1975 daring to be about a shark is ultimately being compared to Steven Spielberg's Jaws. To be fair, it's a terrific flick. One could easily argue it's one of the best pieces of cinema, period. It's also fair to say that not every shark movie tries to accomplish what Jaws did and not every shark movie needs to in order to be successful. Case in point: The Shallows.

The Shallows swims more like a cheesy psychological thriller than a true horror film. It bites away the fleshier story chunks of Jaws
such as the vengeful fisherman and political scandal subplots. It simply pits Blake Lively against a hungry shark and it's better for it.

This film knows what it is and isn't afraid to tease you with its fin just before lunging towards you and taking you by surprise. It's an intense, slow-burn survivalist movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. It knows the boxes it needs to check and it checks them: a small window into the history of Blake Lively's medical student character? Check. A few disposable doofuses to kill off? Check. Lots of talking to seagulls and trying to outswim a very hungry shark? Check.

Like I said, The Shallows does not attempt to accomplish what Jaws did. It doesn't have to. It's a stripped down, bare bones, summer thriller and that's all it needs to be.

Is The Shallows worth your time? I say yes, but comment below with your own thoughts. Did you like it? Was it awful? And feel free to follow me on Twitter or Instagram @MuppetyMan or on YouTube at Movie Minutes. Just click the follow button at the front page of my blog and thanks for reading!