Well, it's still warm and humid out there. I could go for a dip at an exotic beach somewhere to cool down, but The Shallows reminds me that it's probably safer to just sit in the air conditioning.
The Shallows is about Nancy (Blake Lively) who goes off to
a secret beach that the locals refuse to tell her the name of. Once she gets
there she understands why. I mean, the secret beach doesn't have a name that
exactly spells out #1 tourist attraction... Great White Gonnagetu Bay.
In all seriousness, The Shallows is one slick shark flick. The premise
is simple. Nancy is attacked by a great white shark while surfing and ends up
stranded on a piece of rock that will eventually be submerged during high tide. The shore
is in sight - just about 200 yards away. She's so close and yet so far away.
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| Steven Seagull |
Nancy spends most of her plight on top of this rock, along with an
injured bird called Steven Seagull (seriously). The film could have easily devolved into a
boring mess at this point, but it doesn't. The tension carries through, and
we're treated to a nice make-shift surgery scene that had my toes curling.
The overall visuals are gorgeous, and they are the main highlight of this film. The secret beach is initially bright and tropical, but it quickly becomes tainted with blood and
fear. The vibrant, warm sand becomes cold and grey. The crystal blue water turns murky. Paradise lost.
The Shallows doesn't break any new ground, and Jaws beats it in
emotional impact and drama, but it's still a pretty fun movie to watch... and
it made me care about the fate of a seagull.
The Shallows is available at the Franklin County Library!
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