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The Shallows

4K Ultra HD

Blu Ray

  • Score
    77
    from 5 reviewers
    Review Date:
  • The Shallows" thrills with tension, visuals & Lively's act, but its ending and critique vary.

    The Shallows 4K UHD Blu-ray Front Cover

    Disc Release Date:

    2K Upscale
    HDR10
    Dolby Atmos
    Dolby TrueHD
  • Video
    91
  • The Shallows' 4K UHD release showcases stunning HDR and WCG, enhancing detail and color for a superior viewing experience, despite its 2K finish.

  • Audio
    89
  • The Shallows' UHD release features an outstanding Dolby Atmos mix, elevating its immersive audio/visual experience, with detailed, engaging sound design enhancing the aquatic thriller.

  • Extra
    71
  • The Shallows UHD Blu-ray features detailed behind-the-scenes content, exploring shark realism, special effects, shooting challenges, and the pristine Lord Howe Island location, alongside deleted scenes and other Sony previews.

  • Movie
    76
  • The Shallows is a gripping survival thriller where Nancy battles a shark with resilience and resourcefulness amid personal challenges, capturing humanity's essence despite its clichés and the occasional overuse of effects.

    Video: 91

    The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "The Shallows" showcases a leap in visual performance despite its original footage being captured at resolutions lower than native 4K, employing a diverse amalgamation of digital cameras including Arri Alexa XT and XT Plus, Red Epic Dragon, and GoPro Hero 4 Black. Although primarily filmed at 3.4K and finalized with a 2K Digital Intermediate (DI), the upscaling to 4K executed by Sony Pictures is nothing short of remarkable. Presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, the disc employs a 3840 x 2160p transfer, uses 10-bit video depth with High Dynamic Range (HDR), and utilizes a Wider Colour Gamut (WCG) encoded via the HEVC (H.265) codec. The HDR plays a pivotal role, enhancing the viewing experience profoundly by bringing to life the film's varied environments, from sun-drenched beaches to menacing, stormy seas, with an uncanny feeling of realism and depth. Notably, the superior detailing provided by HDR allows even the minutest aspects, such as sand grains and water droplets, to be vividly appreciated.

    Colors emerge as one of the most impressive enhancements in this transfer. Leveraging the WCG and HDR, the image renders with significantly improved saturation, creating a rich tapestry of hues that elevate the realism of oceanic blues and greens, alongside more nuanced color details such as flesh tones and the alarming red of blood, which gains a striking presence on screen. The meticulous capture of varied lighting conditions, whether in the brightness of day or the shadows cast by clouds above, articulate a visual feast that stands testament to the prowess of 4K UHD technology in amplifying narrative immersion through visual fidelity.

    In terms of image clarity and detail, "The Shallows" 4K UHD Blu-ray excels, offering an incremental yet distinct improvement over its Blu-ray counterpart. Scenes featuring long overhead shots exhibit sharper detail while close-ups reveal textural nuances previously unseen, from facial features to natural elements like rust and wear on objects within the film’s setting. This visual enhancement extends to underwater sequences and CGI elements, including the shark, where clarity and color depth contribute to a more convincing and engaging cinematic experience. Despite occasional reminders of its budgetary constraints in some CGI moments, “The Shallows” on 4K UHD remains a reference-quality title demonstrating how adept upscaling combined with HDR and an extensive color gamut can significantly elevate a film’s visual storytelling beyond its original resolution limitations.

    Audio: 89

    The Ultra HD Blu-ray release of "The Shallows" upgrades the audio experience from the theatrical 5.1-channel mix to a sensational new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, delivering a commendable leap in immersive audio quality. This mix, exclusive to the Ultra HD release, with the regular Blu-ray retaining a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel track, sets a distinguished standard. Utilizing a Denon AVR-X7200WA AV receiver configured in a 7.2.4 setup, the Dolby Atmos mix reveals itself to be incredibly engaging, wrapping viewers in the film's tense, oceanic environment. From the nuanced soundscapes of the beach to the dynamic auditory experiences of surfing and underwater sequences, the soundtrack utilizes object-based audio splendidly, placing sounds with pinpoint accuracy around and above the audience. The bass enriches both the ocean's might and the threatening presence of the shark, presenting a robust workout for any home theater system, while maintaining clear dialogue and a well-integrated score.

    Listeners will find the Dolby Atmos track crafts a balanced and moderately active soundscape that does justice to the onscreen events without overpowering them. The surfing scenes stand out as particularly immersive, with audio cues expertly rotating around the listener, creating an enveloping sound stage that extends atmospherics, music, and discrete effects with finesse. This balance enhances the film's atmospheric elements and complements the source material in creating an engaging auditory experience.

    Importantly, moments of aquatic immersion are where the Atmos track shines brightest, pushing speakers to their limits and making full use of overhead channels for a sensation of total immersion. Light environmental details gain depth and dimension, adding layers to the experience. Music and action scenes benefit from enhanced clarity and envelopment, bolstered by a strong low end, without sacrificing dialogue's natural front-center prioritization. Together with superior visuals, this audio presentation situates "The Shallows" Ultra HD release as a standout demo disc, showcasing the profound capabilities of Dolby Atmos in delivering an atmospheric and enveloping soundscape that significantly elevates the viewing experience.

    Extra: 71

    The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Shallows" enriches the viewing experience with a plethora of supplementary content firmly aimed at expanding the appreciation for the film's production and setting, while simultaneously offering insights into the real-world context of shark behavior. Highlighted by a bundle of extras on the accompanying regular Blu-ray, viewers are privy to a condensed yet insightful collection of deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes detailing the meticulous craftsmanship behind the shark's on-screen presence, and an engaging discussion on the selection of Lord Howe Island as the perfect backdrop for the movie's tense narrative. Notably, "Shooting in the Shallows" efficiently combines location and soundstage footage to reveal the challenges and creative solutions involved in water-based filming, augmented by Blake Lively's commendable physical preparation. Similarly, "When Sharks Attack" juxtaposes a narrative demonizing sharks within the film against a more nuanced understanding through discussions with experts and a real-life survivor's tale. Each component of the extra content underscores the creative team's dedication to realism, innovative visual effects, and environmental consciousness, all while respecting the delicate balance of their chosen filming location within a protected marine reserve.

    Extras included in this disc:

    Deleted Scenes: Expands on three specific moments that didn't make the final cut but offers insight into the filmmaking process.

    Shooting in the Shallows: A comprehensive look at how the film was shot, combining location work with green screen technology.

    When Sharks Attack: Features interviews with a shark attack survivor and experts for a real-world perspective on shark behavior.

    How to Build a Shark: Showcases the detailed process behind designing and animating the movie's digital and practical shark effects.

    Finding the Perfect Beach: Lord Howe Island: Highlights the significance and challenges of filming on this picturesque yet remote location.

    Movie: 76

    In "The Shallows," Blake Lively delivers a riveting performance as Nancy, a young medical student grappling with the recent loss of her mother to cancer. This emotional backdrop sets the stage for a harrowing tale of survival as Nancy, seeking solace and perhaps answers, ventures to a secluded Mexican beach - the same beach her mother visited while pregnant with her. The film thrives on its simple yet profound premise, masterfully executed by director Jaume Collet-Serra, who juxtaposes the breathtaking serenity of the setting with the visceral terror of Nancy's ordeal. Stranded only 200 yards from shore after a shark attack, Nancy's fight for survival becomes an intense psychological battle as much as a physical one. The film meticulously builds tension, using real locations and practical effects to ground its narrative, creating a sense of immediacy and dread that lingers.

    Despite its prowess in delivering nail-biting suspense and emotionally charged storytelling, "The Shallows" does falter in its third act, where the shark's portrayal shifts from a believable threat to an almost caricatured predator, detracting from the film's earlier established realism. While comparisons to Spielberg's "Jaws" are inevitable, "The Shallows" distinguishes itself with its focus on human resilience, ingenuity, and the will to survive against insurmountable odds. Lively's portrayal of Nancy is both powerful and nuanced, capturing the essence of human vulnerability and determination. The film's visual storytelling is equally compelling, with Collet-Serra skillfully employing both panoramic vistas and intimate close-ups to accentuate the isolation and beauty of the perilous setting.

    However, not all elements harmonize as desired. Attempts at deepening character backstory occasionally tread into clichéd territories, and certain filmmaking techniques such as excessive use of slow motion come off as overindulgent, breaking the otherwise immersive experience. Nonetheless, "The Shallows" stands out as a testament to the effectiveness of simple, focused storytelling, anchored by a strong central performance and adept direction. It may not redefine its genre but certainly delivers a gripping tale of survival and self-discovery that resonates with its audience.

    Total: 77

    "The Shallows" garners a divided yet generally positive consensus when it comes to its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release. With Blake Lively's commendable performance at its core, the film itself is recognized for its simple yet effective setup, constructing a taut aquatic thriller that capitalizes on tension and thrills without overstaying its welcome. Despite criticisms towards its latter portions for muddling the shark's depiction, the movie has been lauded as an engaging survival narrative that does well to maintain its suspense. Technical aspects of the 4K UHD presentation have received universal acclaim; the transition from a 2K source to 4K UHD is noted for showcasing the prowess of WCG (Wide Color Gamut) and HDR (High Dynamic Range), providing a superior visual experience over the standard Full HD version. The addition of a Dolby Atmos soundtrack further elevates the home viewing experience, offering an auditory complement to the visually stunning presentation.

    Extras included in the package, while described as limited, have been found to be moderately insightful, focusing primarily on the film's developmental aspects. Critics and audiences alike have noted the film's capacity to engage and entertain, with technical merits particularly highlighted—its 2160p/HDR-enhanced video quality and Atmos sound quality are standout features that have earned high praise for demonstrating the potential of 4K UHD format.

    In conclusion, the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Shallows" transcends its source material's occasional narrative shortcomings with a technologically superior home viewing experience. The film’s adept blend of tension, performance, and visual splendor, enhanced by cutting-edge audio-visual capabilities, makes this release a compelling addition to any 4K enthusiast's collection. The combination of high-quality picture and sound with a gripping thriller narrative ensures that “The Shallows” is not just a demonstration of technology’s progress but also a testament to the immersive power of modern home cinema.