Written by Melissa Allen, who you can follow on Twitter at @melissajournal
Welcome back to our brand new Film of the Week series! Each Friday, we're going to be taking a look at a movie which has had us all taking at Female First HQ, and that we think readers would love to see, if they haven't checked it out already! This week's selection is a film in which the villain has been used for decades, but the plot is unlike anything we've seen before.
Film of the Week on Female First
The Shallows is a new take on the shark thriller, as young Nancy (Blake Lively) is left fighting for her life after being bitten by a great white, and stranded just metres from the shore. This film shows what can be done when using a limited cast, one main location and an audience’s love for the genre.
The film uses classic horror tropes, such as taking place in an abandoned or unpopulated area – in this case it is a beach Nancy has been searching for. This is coupled with scenes in which you think you know what you’re in for, such as a jumpscare or a reveal of the antagonist, when in fact it is an innocent red herring that allows you to let your guard down. The contrast in using a well-lit area is genius as it causes audiences to wonder what could possibly be so concerning – until Nancy’s battle with a ferocious great white shark begins, so close to the safety of the shore.
How the villainous shark is brought into the film is a stroke of genius; as Nancy wanders further out to sea on her surfboard we see more and more of the location – and slowly, more and more of our antagonist. We see Nancy turn from carefree and excited, to focused and crafty, as her nursing background aids her in her fight with this massive monster of the ocean.
Nancy’s appearance at the end of this film is what shows this film’s events to be something that has actually worn our protagonist down, as she has been bitten, stung by jellyfish and burned by poisonous coral. Her tenacity is something to admire despite her frustrating struggle against the king of the sea, and you are constantly hoping that she will somehow survive.
This film keeps you entertained throughout, and genuinely wondering how it'll all conclude; will Nancy will get to see her sister and father again? The movie is done in an exceptional way as any CGI used looks as genuine as you could imagine, and a realistic main character that had been through a truly thrilling journey.
The Shallows is something the film industry needs more of – a simple yet brilliantly executed plot, with the perfect cast and a villain that, in this film is not overused. You will leave the movie feeling like it's the first shark thriller you've ever seen.
LAST WEEK: Bad Times at the El Royale