By Geno McGahee
In 1975, JAWS terrified audiences and a new horror monster was born. The shark became a thing to fear and every once in a while, we hear of a story of a surfer attacked and losing a limb to support the fear. Horror has not been so good to the shark in current times. SHARKNADO has made a joke out of their power and it’s difficult to take the swimming kill machine seriously anymore…until now. THE SHALLOWS, releasing on 4K Ultra, Blu-ray and DVD September 27th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, has brought back the ferocious unstoppable killer in a tense rollercoaster ride of a film. When it was released in the cinemas, it received a lot of attention and there is a reason why. It’s a very good film.
Nancy (Blake Lively) is a surfer visiting a secluded beach in Mexico. Outside of a couple of dudes, there is nobody around and she is enjoying the water and isolation. She has family problems and there was a loss in the family, leading to this time away and discomfort with her father. This trip was there to clear her mind and it seems to be working. She mingles with the two guys surfing, and takes full advantage of the waves. There was great attention paid to the shots they got in this film. As intense as this film is, it captures the beauty of the water and the cinematography was incredibly creative.
The boys leave and now she has the beach and water to herself. She swims up and finds a whale carcass floating. It is mauled and the seagulls are feasting. It’s an odd sight and she is quite mesmerized by it until she sees something coming her way. A huge great white shark speeds forward and takes a bite out of her leg. She barely escapes and finds safety on a large rock. She sits there and watches the beast circle, eagerly awaiting its next meal. There is no way out and that is the key to a good horror film. When the characters are stuck in a situation without an escape, it can be very intense and it was. It’s easier to put yourself in the shoes of the character and Lively does a great job in this as the sympathetic victim, although her tough side shines through as the film progresses.
Stuck on the rock, Nancy eagerly awaits any help. She sees some drunk guy on the beach and yells for help. Instead of that, he steals her stuff and then tries to steal her surfboard, but the shark wasn’t having any of that. The good thing about horror movies is that the jerks typically get what’s coming to them and this was no exception.
Time goes by and her leg gets worse and her hope diminishes. She has nowhere to go and she has no resources. The shark still circles and she just waits for something to happen or to die. The surfers from the day before show up and laugh at the notion of a shark, but they soon find out the truth. This is the first time we really get a good look at it and it’s tremendous. In a day and age when CGI can look really terrible, even on bigger budgeted films, we have some very good work done here. This is a mixture of practical effects and CGI and that’s always the best blend.
With nowhere to turn and no one to help, Nancy has to fight the shark, leading to an epic showdown and a great deal of entertainment. Lively did a great job of playing vulnerable and tough, shifting from one to the other when necessary. This film is done so well and flies by with a great pace.
THE SHALLOWS is a winner. Blake Lively was the right choice to carry the film and she did it well, proving likable and tough. Special credit has to be given to the special effects team and cinematographer on this one. This was just a case of a lot of good people coming together for something and bringing their talents. This is one of the best killer shark movies in years.
Rating: 8/10
4K Ultra HD
Feature film in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Dolby Atmos soundtrack (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible)*
Also includes the film and special features on high-def Blu-ray
* To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar; however, Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.
Blu-ray, DVD & Digital Bonus Materials Include:
Deleted Scenes
Four Featurettes:
“Shooting in The Shallows”
“How to Build a Shark”
“Finding The Perfect Beach: Lord Howe Island”
“When Sharks Attack”
THE SHALLOWS has a run time of approximately 87 minutes and is rated PG-13 for bloody images, intense sequences of peril, and brief strong language.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.
