The Shallows

I must be severely ignorant because I don't have a clue who actress Blake Lively is or what she's starred in. Yet she plays the sole main character of Sony Pictures new "The Shallows" Blu-ray, the latest in the never-ending shark attack horror movie genre. Yet "The Shallows" belongs more in the thriller category and its PG-13 rating pushes the envelope in the gore department.

Nancy (Lively) surfs for a good time and she and her BFF decide to test the waters on a secluded Mexican beach. When the unseen bestie calls out sick, that leaves Nancy on her own to brave the strong riptides. Before you can scream out "Jaws," the curvy Nancy becomes fish food for a killer shark that stalks her until the final moments of "The Shallows."

But "Jaws: The Revenge" this isn't. Instead of jetting off to the Bahamas like the plot in that inane fourth "Jaws" film, Nancy becomes trapped 200 yards from shore on a set of rocks, fighting for her life with an injured leg and constant attacks from the CGI shark. Hey, at least it's not rubbery...Bruce the mechanical shark anyone?

"The Shallows" had me on edge and intrigued me most of the time, that is, until Nancy befriends an injured gull that won't leave her side. Color me surprised, but I was unaware that gulls will hang out with humans while they are in states of distress.

Even with these issues, "The Shallows" looks phenomenon and the 4K resolution process on the Blu-ray made me wish I was on the secluded beaches of Mexico. Besides the stunning high-definition presentation, there are four featurettes included:

"Shooting in The Shallows" - shows the difficulties the cast and crew had while filming on water

"How to Build a Shark" - looks at the visual shark effects used in "The Shallows"

"Finding the Perfect Beach: Lord Howe Island" - visits the Australian island that poses as a Mexican beach in the film

"When Sharks Attack" - interviews a real-life shark attack victim

"The Shallows"
Blu-ray
$34.99
www.sonypictures.com