'The Shallows' - the surprising shark horror film of summer 2016

The $17 million film captivates audiences from beginning to end with its portrayal of a beautiful woman's battle against a bloodthirsty shark.

In 1975, the film Jaws achieved tremendous success thanks to director Steven Spielberg's innovative approach, opening up a fascinating new theme for filmmakers: the story of surprise attacks by "sea monsters" targeting humans.Subsequently, many films drew inspiration from it.JawsButPlacing the protagonist in a desolate setting and hopeless situation increases the suspense for the viewer.However, not many films were successful.

Therefore, the debut ofThe ShallowsInitially, it didn't raise many expectations. However, what this $17 million film delivered in its 87 minutes was a huge surprise for viewers.

The film opens simply and concisely. Nancy, a medical student facing a career crisis, decides to visit a secluded beach in Mexico, where her mother used to surf while pregnant with her. The stunning natural scenery and powerful waves provide Nancy with an exciting experience. Viewers are somewhat captivated by the wild and alluring beauty of the sea through the aerial shots in this film.

As darkness fell and the two tourists surfing there left, Nancy stayed behind to catch the last wave. She soon paid the price for her misguided decision. The carcass of a whale floating near where she was drifting on her surfboard was the first ominous sign. Before she could react, Nancy was attacked by a ferocious great white shark. Luckily, she managed to crawl onto a small rock nearby and treat the deep bite wound on her leg. From that moment on, the young woman embarked on a fierce and solitary battle at sea.

Poster for "The Shallows".

To create tension and suspense, Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra employs various techniques, delivering suspenseful moments in small increments rather than a series of sudden, unexpected attacks. The camera angles shift flexibly, from a sweeping overhead perspective of Nancy, alone and without escape, to a low-angle view of a predatory sea creature lurking underwater, preying on its stranded victim.

Nancy's rocky outcrop was only a few hundred meters from the shore, but she couldn't swim to it. Any glimmer of hope that had just appeared was extinguished by Nancy's desperate cries for help in the middle of the ocean.

After more than a day and night struggling at sea with her leg gradually becoming gangrenous, Nancy begins to gamble with fate, using her intellect and remaining strength to calculate her chances of survival. The pace of the film also quickens, and dramatic situations appear more frequently towards the end.

Blake Lively makes an impressive comeback.

Every detail in the script is realistic, highlighting the protagonist's resilience. A prime example is when she climbs a mooring buoy in the middle of the sea, retrieves a flare gun to call for help from afar, but the gun proves useless due to its age and malfunction. Viewers are drawn into the life-or-death struggle in the final 15 minutes. The perspective shifts constantly, from above looking down, from below looking up, into the rocky depths of the ocean and amidst glowing jellyfish.

Nancy's victory over the "sea monster" came from her own efforts, not luck. That's the message the film fully conveys to viewers: "Save yourself" instead of relying solely on chance or survival instinct. In a life-or-death situation, Nancy didn't selfishly think only of her own survival. She repeatedly signaled to those on shore not to jump into the sea and become shark prey. As she prepared to escape, she didn't forget to rescue a seagull with a dislocated wing that was stranded on the rocks with her.

The film has many scenes that are chilling and frightening.

The film's sole lead actress is Blake Lively. She was a wise choice for The Shallows. Not only does she possess a stunning figure in bikinis throughout the film, but Ryan Reynolds' "Deadpool" wife also makes an impression with her acting efforts. She flawlessly portrays scenes of inner despair and struggles to escape death.

The ShallowsDeadly waters)It will be released in Vietnamese cinemas from August 5th.

According to VNE