I don’t think it’s controversial to say that The Reef is one of the best shark movies ever made, intense, straight to the point, yet captivating and suspenseful.
So when i heard that there was a “sequel”, i wasn’t surprised and contrary to the publisher’s intended response, i was even more wary because i felt like i was being trojan horsed another middling or subpar shark movie by using the respected reputation of The Reef.
On the other hand, the original director (also known for the Black Water movies and his contribution to the first ABCs Of Death) is back, so it’s not like this an apocryphal follow-up farmed to a random first-time director by the production.
The plot is pretty much the same exact one you’d see in one of these modern shark movies opting for some kind of realistic approach, and the only real similarity to the first The Reef is the climax involving reaching a not so distant yet not so close island, but even that it’s a stretch because it’s such a generic plot beat in itself, and this one isn’t even really trying to re-do the previous film.
It’s a bit odd to have a human murder as the opening scene for a shark movie, at least at first, since it sets up the mental anguish this group of friends feels, when they reunite years later after one of the girls is strangled by their husband/fiancee, with the protagonist walking into the aftermath of the murder at the time, only to disappear, straight up escape after founding out.
So it’s a set up of her facing loss once more as they set out kayaking all together, only to be stalked by a great white shark and trying to survive and call for help.
To be honest, i can see why some people might feel underwhelmed at this being a “follow up” to The Reef, this film does manage to capture a good deal of the tension, of the realistic feeling of dread from the “previous” movie, it does make a solid effort in offering a slightly different story (and it’s not a sequel in terms of anything), and while some of the acting is a bit iffy (and in some shots the otherwise good shark effects – well integrated with real shark footage – can be dodgy as well), it still quite involving and engaging, despite not really offering nothing new for the genre.
It’s good, it’s just The Reef worked so much better with an even simpler set-up, plot and cast of characters, but in terms of realistic shark movie with a solid budget and actual intentions of conveying the dread and tension of a shark stalking you without throwing in cheap shit or random ass semblances of self-deprecating humour, The Reef Stalked its still a good one, not great but yet
MILES above a good 80 % of the current offering of shark flicks.
It’s just the “first” The Reef was something special, this one not really, but still a worthy watch, unless you have brainworms or some of that “IMDB brain rot” that goes around.
Wise Cafe (International) 