---
title: "The Shallows"
year: 2016
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-shallows"
fi1m_id: "the-shallows"
imdb_id: "tt4052882"
tmdb_id: 332567
wikidata_id: "Q21450484"
fi1m_score: 82
critics_score: 64
critics_reviews: 22
published: "2026-10-03T08:40:47.741512+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T08:40:47.922152+00:00"
region: "CA"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Shallows (2016)

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra · 1h 26m · CHVRS 18A · Horror, Drama, Thriller

## Identity

The Shallows

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-shallows
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-shallows
- **IMDb ID:** tt4052882
- **TMDB ID:** 332567
- **Wikidata ID:** Q21450484
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4052882/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/332567, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21450484

**Fi1m score: 82** · Critics 64 from 22 reviews

*In a sentence:* Eighty-six minutes, one rock, one seagull, and a shark with a personal grudge

> Jaume Collet-Serra’s shark film is lean, bright and properly frightening for most of its 86 minutes, and Blake Lively carries it nearly alone. The finish is silly; the hour on the rock is as good as this kind of thing gets.

## Synopsis

Nancy Adams (Blake Lively) has come alone to a secluded beach to surf. A local, Carlos (Óscar Jaenada), drives her down and will not tell her its name. She paddles out, shares the break with two surfers, and takes a video call on the sand from her sister Chloe (Sedona Legge) and her father (Brett Cullen), who wants to know whether she is giving up. Late in the afternoon she goes back out for one more wave and finds a dead whale drifting in the shallows. A great white is feeding on it. It bites her, and she drags herself onto a rock a short way from shore, with the tide coming in, a bleeding leg, and an injured seagull for company.

## Review

Jaume Collet-Serra has spent two films putting Liam Neeson in confined spaces, a plane in *Non-Stop* (2014) and a car in *Run All Night* (2015), and here he strips the idea to its bones. One woman, one rock, one shark, 86 minutes. *The Shallows* is a B-picture and knows it, and it is a good one: tense, clean, well lit and over before it can bore you. It spends its last fifteen minutes doing the things shark films do when they run out of ideas, and we minded less than we expected to.

Anthony Jaswinski’s script gets Nancy into the water fast. She has lost her mother, and the beach is bound up with that. Blake Lively plays her as competent before she is frightened, a woman who checks the swell and times the sets, and when the trouble starts the competence is what she has left. She tourniquets a leg with the cord from a wetsuit and keeps up a conversation with a seagull on the rock. Lively is funny in the way frightened people are funny, snapping at the bird, apologising to it, and she carries long stretches of the film alone.

Flavio Martínez Labiano shoots the water from everywhere a camera will go. Half the frame is above the surface and half below, so we see Nancy’s legs hanging from the board while she looks the other way. The shark is first shown as a shape inside the curl of a wave with the sun behind it. Blood spreads in a slow cloud that Labiano films from underneath, and the cove, turquoise and gold until then, is suddenly a place we wanted to leave. Hugh Bateup gives Nancy a rock the size of a kitchen table, with a tide line on it we learn to read.

Joel Negron cuts the surfing as a short bright montage and then slows down once she is stranded, so that minutes on the rock feel like minutes. He lays Nancy’s phone on the frame as a graphic, the video call sitting in a corner of the sky, which spares us exposition. Marco Beltrami’s score stays low under the waiting and comes up hard for the attacks; it is not subtle and it is not meant to be.

We flinched at the first bite, properly. It is staged from the surface, a jolt and then nothing, and the nothing is worse. Later Nancy does something to her own leg with her jewellery, and we watched most of it through our fingers, while admiring that Collet-Serra holds the shot and lets Lively’s face do the screaming. It is the best sequence in the film and it is over quickly. We came out grinning, which is not what we expected from a film about a woman bleeding on a rock.

The weaknesses are all off the rock. Jaswinski has given Nancy a dead mother and a worried father, and every so often the shark has to wait while she remembers them. The video call with Brett Cullen is written to tell us what the film is about, and the film did not need telling. The shark circles the rock as though it had taken the business personally, and the effects, so good in silhouette, look worse in daylight. The last act moves to a buoy, takes a turn we will not describe, and is sillier than everything before it. Most critics have stopped there, complaining of the backstory and the finish. We think they are weighing the wrong parts: the backstory is a few minutes, the finish is ten, and in between is an hour of thriller built as well as the genre allows.

Next to [*Jaws*](https://film.one/film/jaws) (1975) this is a small thing; Spielberg had a town and three men in a boat, and Collet-Serra has a woman and a bird. Against the director’s Neeson films it is tighter and better looking. The gull, credited as Sully ‘Steven’ Seagull, gives the second-best performance.

Watch it at home with the lights down and the sound up, and forgive it the buoy. It carries a 15 certificate for the leg, which it earns.

*Fi1m score 82, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics come away pleased with The Shallows, and the praise is consistent about where the credit lies. Blake Lively’s performance is singled out again and again as the thing holding the film together, a committed, convincing and occasionally dryly funny turn in what is close to a one-woman show. Jaume Collet-Serra’s staging of a single stretch of water as a trap draws nearly as much admiration, as does the cinematography that makes the sea and the shark beneath it so effective. Several reviews rank it above every shark film since Jaws.

The reservations cluster at the edges of the story. The backstory about Nancy’s mother is widely judged unnecessary, and the climax is faulted for strained logic and a sentimental finish. The spread is wide: The Guardian admires the construction almost without reservation, while The Hollywood Reporter finds it inept and unable to build suspense. The New Yorker, alone, argues that Lively’s dramatic potential goes unused.

## Straight answers

**Is The Shallows worth watching?**

*The Shallows* is worth watching for anyone who wants a short, bright, properly frightening shark film, and we scored it 82. Blake Lively carries nearly all of it alone on a rock, and the hour she spends there is as good as this kind of thing gets. The last fifteen minutes are silly, and we suggest forgiving them.

**How long is The Shallows, and what is it rated?**

*The Shallows* runs 1h 26m and is rated 18A by the CHVRS in Canada. It is a horror and drama film.

**Where can I watch The Shallows in Canada?**

*The Shallows* is streaming on Crave and Amazon Prime Video in Canada, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from CA$4.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is The Shallows, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Shallows* is a 15 certificate in the UK, and it earns it with one sequence in which Nancy treats her own bitten leg, which we watched through our fingers. The first bite is a jolt staged from the surface, and the waiting afterwards is tense rather than gory. Not for children or the squeamish; older teenagers who can take a wound should be fine.

**How does The Shallows compare to Jaws?**

*The Shallows* is a smaller film than [*Jaws*](https://film.one/film/jaws), with one woman and a seagull where Spielberg had a town and three men in a boat, and the older film is the better of the two. What *The Shallows* has is speed and clarity: 86 minutes, almost all of them on a rock. Watch *Jaws* for the people, *The Shallows* for a lean evening of suspense.

**What should I watch after The Shallows?**

After *The Shallows*, try [*Jaws*](https://film.one/film/jaws) (1975, Fi1m 93): The one every shark film is measured against, and it still frightens. Then [*All Is Lost*](https://film.one/film/all-is-lost) (2013, Fi1m 82): Robert Redford alone on a sinking boat, almost wordless, and gripping throughout; and [*127 Hours*](https://film.one/film/127-hours) (2010, Fi1m 81): One man, one rock, one terrible decision; Danny Boyle makes the canyon feel vast.

### Reviews we read (22)

- **The Guardian**, Jordan Hoffman (90/100, inferred): Hoffman calls the film a minor masterpiece and praises its clever construction. He singles out the arresting cinematography and the film’s escalating, suspenseful survival scenario. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jun/23/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-shark-thriller-jaume-collet-serra)
- **Evening Standard**, David Sexton (85/100, inferred): Sexton calls the film possibly the best shark movie yet and praises it as perfect summer entertainment. He singles out Blake Lively’s performance and the film’s pace and propulsion. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-shallows-film-review-just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-a3318276.html)
- **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (B+): Ehrlich praises the film as an exceptionally effective shark thriller, calling it the best since Jaws. He especially singles out Blake Lively’s performance and the stranded seagull as a delightful supporting character. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-1201691691/)
- **Little White Lies**, Adam Nayman (4/4/3): Nayman finds the film entertaining but ultimately disappointing, wishing it were better. He praises the ocean setting and Collet-Serra’s visual transformation of paradise into purgatory. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-shallows)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (80/100, inferred): Chang finds the film a satisfying, unpretentious summer thriller. He especially praises Blake Lively’s committed performance and the director’s skill at sustaining suspense. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-shallows-review-20160620-snap-story.html)
- **Time Out**, Joshua Rothkopf (4/5): The critic calls it an enjoyably trashy, entertaining summer film. The page singles out Blake Lively as well suited to the shark-survival story. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-shallows)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Matt Zoller Seitz (3/4): The critic finds it an effective, tightly focused survival thriller. The film’s lean construction and striking ocean setting stand out. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-shallows-2016)
- **Slant Magazine**, Carson Lund (3/4): The critic finds the survival thriller crackling and entertaining, though its ending disappoints. They single out Collet-Serra’s visual acrobatics and inventive camera work for praise. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-shallows/)
- **Empire**, Nick de Semlyen (70/100, inferred): The critic calls it an energetic, entertaining survival thriller, though its plotting and climax weaken the payoff. Blake Lively’s performance is singled out as an excellent anchor for the largely one-woman show. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shallows-review/)
- **The AV Club**, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (C+): The review finds the thriller fitfully entertaining but ultimately shallow and hamstrung by its gimmicks. It praises the occasional suspense in Nancy’s improvised attempts to escape, while faulting the screenplay for needless backstory and themes. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-gimmicky-survival-thriller-the-shallows-is-out-of-i-1798188213)
- **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (3/5): Jones regards the film as a cleverly constructed B-movie that adds effective scares rather than merely copying Jaws. He praises the director’s tense staging and the striking cinematography. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-vqmdl9/the-shallows/)
- **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (40/100, inferred): Grierson finds the thriller tense and diverting, but ultimately too cheesy and predictable to rise above its familiar survival story. He praises the uncluttered suspense while faulting the forced emotional backstory and shoddy effects. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-shallows-review/5106119.article)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (40/100, inferred): Debruge finds the film an intermittently exciting but shallow thriller, with logic that falters in its final stretch. He praises its most startling shark-attack image, while criticizing the suspense, editing, and overly commercial look. [Read](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-1201801652/)
- **The New Yorker** (25/100, inferred): The critic finds the film dramatically thin and lacking a distinctive perspective. They fault its failure to develop Nancy’s inner life and say Blake Lively’s dramatic potential goes unused. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-shallows-2)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (10/100, inferred): McCarthy pans the film as an inept, unconvincing shark thriller that fails to build suspense. He sympathizes with Blake Lively’s demanding performance but criticizes the film’s erratic style and muddled climax. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/shallows-film-review-905786/)
- **HeyUGuys** (85/100, inferred): The critic calls The Shallows a refreshing, highly entertaining summer film despite some flaws. They praise Jaume Collet-Serra’s effective tension-building and Blake Lively’s leading performance, while faulting the overlong backstory about Nancy’s mother. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-shallows-review/)
- **Collider**, Brian Formo (B): Formo finds the film enjoyable and sharply crafted, though its predictable tension and saccharine closure keep it from greatness. He especially praises the precise staging of isolated peril and Blake Lively’s performance. [Read](https://collider.com/the-shallows-review-blake-lively/)
- **Consequence**, Dominick Suzanne-Mayer (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film preposterous but enjoyable, an effective and brisk B-movie thriller. They single out Blake Lively’s magnetic, dryly funny performance as central to its success. [Read](https://consequence.net/2016/06/film-review-the-shallows/)
- **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a skillful, suspenseful summertime diversion rather than a lasting classic. They praise Blake Lively’s convincing portrayal of panic and perseverance. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-vs-shark-is-a-fairer-fight-than-youd-imagine/)
- **Eye for Film**, Luke Shaw (60/100, inferred): The review finds the film an inventive but uneven take on the shark-attack genre, held back by contrivances. It praises the cinematography for making the water and the lurking shark especially effective. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-shallows-2016-film-review-by-luke-shaw)
- **The Skinny**, Tom Charles (★★★): The review finds the thriller entertaining but overly reliant on Jaws and thin on plot. It praises the unsettling shark attacks, strong cinematography, and Blake Lively’s engaging performance. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-shallows)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (30/100, inferred): Hammond finds the film repetitive and says it falls far short of Jaws as a thriller. He praises Blake Lively’s commitment and the shark’s credibility, while giving an affectionate nod to the seagull and rock. [Read](https://deadline.com/2016/06/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-shark-jaws-1201779265/)

## Details

- **Director:** Jaume Collet-Serra
- **Director:** Jaume Collet-Serra
- **Screenplay:** Anthony Jaswinski
- **Cinematography:** Flavio Martínez Labiano
- **Editor:** Joel Negron
- **Music:** Marco Beltrami
- **Production design:** Hugh Bateup
- **Costume design:** Kym Barrett
- **Producer:** Matti Leshem, Lynn Harris
- **Cast:** Blake Lively as Nancy Adams; Óscar Jaenada as Carlos; Brett Cullen as Father; Janelle Bailey as Mother; Sedona Legge as Chloe Adams; Pablo Calva as Carlo's Son; Diego Espejel as Intoxicated Man; Ava Dean as Young Nancy
- **Runtime:** 1h 26m
- **Certificate (CHVRS):** 18A
- **Release (Canada):** 24 June 2016
- **Genres:** Horror, Drama, Thriller
- **Budget:** $17 million
- **Box office:** $119 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgdxIlSuB70

## Where to watch in Canada

- Crave: streaming
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on
- Amazon Prime Video: rent CA$4.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent CA$4.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy CA$14.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy CA$14.99, hd

*Checked 2026-10-03.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Jaws* (1975), Fi1m 93: The one every shark film is measured against, and it still frightens. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/jaws.md)
- *The Reef* (2010): Australian swimmers, a capsized yacht and a real great white; no effects, no mercy.
- *All Is Lost* (2013), Fi1m 82: Robert Redford alone on a sinking boat, almost wordless, and gripping throughout. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/all-is-lost.md)
- *127 Hours* (2010), Fi1m 81: One man, one rock, one terrible decision; Danny Boyle makes the canyon feel vast. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/127-hours.md)
- *Crawl* (2019), Fi1m 76: A hurricane, a flooded house and alligators; lean, nasty and done in ninety minutes. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/crawl.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-shallows