--- title: "The Shallows: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-shallows/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-shallows" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 22 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): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 22 reviews: 13 positive, 4 mixed, 5 negative. 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. ## The Guardian — Jordan Hoffman Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jun/23/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-shark-thriller-jaume-collet-serra) ## Evening Standard — David Sexton Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2016. 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 the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-shallows-film-review-just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-a3318276.html) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating B+. 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-1201691691/) ## Little White Lies — Adam Nayman Rating 4/4/3. 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-shallows) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-shallows-review-20160620-snap-story.html) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 4/5. 31 July 2016. 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 the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-shallows) ## RogerEbert.com — Matt Zoller Seitz Rating 3/4. 23 June 2016. The critic finds it an effective, tightly focused survival thriller. The film’s lean construction and striking ocean setting stand out. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-shallows-2016) ## Slant Magazine — Carson Lund Rating 3/4. 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-shallows/) ## Empire — Nick de Semlyen Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2016. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shallows-review/) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Rating C+. 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-gimmicky-survival-thriller-the-shallows-is-out-of-i-1798188213) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 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 the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-vqmdl9/the-shallows/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-shallows-review/5106119.article) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-1201801652/) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 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 the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-shallows-2) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/shallows-film-review-905786/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 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 the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-shallows-review/) ## Collider — Brian Formo Rating B. 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://collider.com/the-shallows-review-blake-lively/) ## Consequence — Dominick Suzanne-Mayer Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://consequence.net/2016/06/film-review-the-shallows/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-vs-shark-is-a-fairer-fight-than-youd-imagine/) ## Eye for Film — Luke Shaw Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2016. 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 the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-shallows-2016-film-review-by-luke-shaw) ## The Skinny — Tom Charles Rating ★★★. 8 August 2016. 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 the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-shallows) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 June 2016. 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 the review](https://deadline.com/2016/06/the-shallows-review-blake-lively-shark-jaws-1201779265/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-shallows.md