‘The Reef: Stalked’ is the Best Killer Shark Flick of the Past Five Years
Tyler Doupe'
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Given that the last two killer shark films I critiqued were The Requin and Shark Bait, I had tempered expectations going into The Reef: Stalked. I was fearful it might be a ham-fisted attempt to cash in on the name recognition of a film with a fanbase; a cynical follow-up with none of the charisma of its predecessor. But in spite of my apprehension, I wound up really, really enjoying The Reef: Stalked. It’s an impressive and fitting follow-up to 2011’s The Reef.
The Reef: Stalked, follows Nic (Teressa Liane), who is haunted by unresolved feelings surrounding the tragic loss of her sister (at the hands of an abusive partner). In an effort to decompress, she sets out on a kayaking trip with a couple of friends and her younger sister, Annie (Saskia Archer). Along the way, Nic tries to work through her grief and confront uncomfortable feelings. But self-discovery must take a back seat when the ladies run afoul of a great white shark in search of a human snack.
Although The Reef: Stalked is a sequel to The Reef, it is very much a standalone effort that doesn’t require any knowledge of its predecessor. With that said, however, if you’re a fan of killer shark flicks, you should probably check out The Reef anyway. It’s not as well-known as contemporaries like The Shallows or 47 Meters Down. But it still delivers plenty of killer shark action and suspense.
Related Post: Skip ‘The Requin’ and Rewatch ‘The Shallows’ [Review]
The flick works as well as it does, thanks to expert direction from Andrew Traucki (who was also at the helm of The Reef). He expertly crafts tension using long, uncomfortable shots of limbs dangling in the water like shark bait and sets the proceedings to an ominous score (by Mark Smythe) that effectively accents the picture’s more harrowing sequences. Additionally, the action scenes are edited together in a frenzied fashion that legitimately had me white-knuckling the armrests of my chair.
Ultimately, this follow-up effort is a helluva lot of fun and it delivers everything people want from a giant shark movie. It’s intense, there is plenty of atmosphere, and we get a bit of the good, old-fashioned shark carnage.
In addition to well-realized tension and a bit of the ol’ ultra-violence, the film also manages to pack an impressive narrative punch with some legitimately emotional exchanges between the core cast. While features like The Requin and Shark Bait gave us insufferable characters, The Reef: Stalked delivers smart, capable, resourceful leads that reminded me a bit of the ladies in The Descent. The women in both films are immediately shown to be resourceful, stout-hearted, and insightful. This approach differs from what we often see, which is the survivor going through a final girl transformation before going head-to-head with an antagonist. So, it was refreshing to see Nic’s arc follow her learning to exist with her grief, rather than preparing her for a showdown with the antagonist. Not every female character should come on the scene as a damsel in distress.
Related Post: The Best Thing About ‘Shark Bait’ is That it Runs Less than 90 Minutes [Review]
I liked the leads enough that I can say not all of the picture’s best moments contain jump scares or carnage. Some of the most effective scenes occur when the women are simply existing with one another and bonding through a shared sense of loss. The conversations and heavy moments between Nic and Annie feel authentic. The dialogue and the sibling dynamic both work to make their plight that much more believable.
Since the film is fairly character-focused, there isn’t as much carnage as I was expecting. But with the intensity of the storyline and such a likable cast, a sizable body count doesn’t seem necessary. In fact, as amiable as the leads are, I was cheering for their survival, rather than their demise.
Don’t worry, there absolutely is carnage to be had. And it’s very effective. But part of what makes The Reef: Stalked stand out from the pack is that the characters don’t exist for the sole sake of chumming the water. And for that very reason, I suspect this killer shark tale is going to be a hit when it comes to theaters, on demand, and Shudder on July 29th. In fact, I am going to go out on a limb and say The Reef: Stalked is the best killer shark flick of the past five years.
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The Reef: Stalked
Summary
Likable characters and top-notch tension make this a must-see for genre film enthusiasts.
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