The Reef: Stalked – The Typical Shark Movie
Director: Andrew Traucki
Writer: Andrew Traucki (Screenplay)
Cast: Teressa Liane, Ann Truong, Kate Lister, Tim Ross, Saskia Archer
Plot: After her sister’s murder, Nic, her younger sister and two friends seek solace through a Pacific Island kayaking adventure. Hours into the trip the women are stalked by a shark and must band together, face their fears and save each other.
Tagline – It Will Find You!
Runtime: 1 Hour 31 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Reef: Stalked starts as two sisters Nic (Liane) and Annie (Archer) are recovering from their sister’s murder. Joined by best friends Jodie (Truong) and Lisa (Lister), they set off on a diving trip.
After what seems like a routine little paddleboard and dive. Things take a nightmarish turn when they find themselves hunted down by a shark. The friends must work together to survive against the ferocious animal.
Thoughts on The Reef: Stalked
Characters & Performances
Nic is the elder sister that has turned to travel to recover from her sister’s murder. She returns for a trip with friends, joined by her younger sister. Facing her fears of the water, she goes on a diving trip. An event the friends always did together. Showing her strength to survive in the battle against the shark.
Annie is the younger sister who has never shown an interest in the water before. She goes on the trip, one designed as a memorial for her sister. Her lack of experience is clear when it comes to paddle boarding and being in the water. She wants to do the right thing for her friends when they find themselves in danger.
Jodie is the most experienced member of the friends. Leading the paddle board and dive session. Stepping up when they are in trouble, remaining calm through the whole ordeal.
Lisa is the other friend that has been going on the water with Jodie for years. Wanting to support her friend after her tragedy, taking the baby steps for Annie on the water.
The performances in the film aren’t the strongest. The four struggle to show enough chemistry between them. Not making the friendship feel natural.
Story
The story follows a group of friends that get trapped in the ocean and hunted down by a shark. They will need to think of a solution to escape before becoming the latest victims.
Like the first ‘The Reef’ movie, we get to see the shark hunting down victims. There is a good reason for the friends to return to the water. This must be seen as the strongest point of the movie. Where things get more confusing is the sudden character change in Jodie. It starts off clearly that she is the strongest in the water but halfway through Nic becomes the smartest one. The story also explores grief, following the sisters trying to get over their other sister’s murder. With one struggling with it more than the other.
The director did bring the same sequel feeling he did with ‘Black Water Abyss’. Using the same title, while telling a story about a different group of people. On paper, this is everything you would expect to see in a shark survival battle movie. There isn’t very much difference though.
Themes
The Reef: Stalked is a survival horror following friends stalked by a shark. Needing to work together to figure out how to survive and make it back to land. Being trapped in open water and being hunted by a shark would be terrifying. This is no different, you wouldn’t want to be there and wouldn’t think about going there again.
Final Thoughts – The Reef: Stalked is the typical survival shark movie, high intensity without much more.