Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Reef’

Written by Scott Edwards

Who loves swimming in the ocean? Everyone right? Even those that are land locked and do not have an easy way to make it out to the great Atlantic or Pacific oceans love making the trek to the beach to get in the water. As a child, I remember taking trips to the coasts and loved getting into the water since everyone else was doing it, but now in my older years, and after watching Shark Week, I know that it may not always be the best of ideas.

Luke is welcoming his best friend Matt, his wife Suzie and ex-girlfriend Kate from London to his home in Sydney, Australia. Knowing that they are not used to the water, he plans to take his land locked guests on an excursion that will change their lives forever. Getting a boat and a good captain, Luke knows that they will all love the adventure he has planned out for them and they will be thanking him for years to come.

Arriving at Turtle Island, Luke rekindles his relationship with Kate as they have been apart for so long. Matt is happy to see that things are working out between his best friend and his sister and does not want the day to end as he is having the time of his life with Suzie. As the tide quickly moves out, the group gets back to the boat to head home, but the boat hits an underwater rock in the shallow water causing it to capsize. With the group stranded on the bilge (bottom of the boat), they have to find a way to get to safety before the boat sinks.

Luke comes up with a plan to swim for land as the current is taking the boat further out to sea and his best friend trusts his judgment. As Matt, Suzie and Luke are ready to make the swim to land, Kate reluctantly decides to join in as well and the group is reunited. The swim is long and exhausting, but the group seems to be in high spirits until they notice a fin of a shark that starts following them. Thinking very little about the trouble ahead, Luke tries to keep his friends calm as most of the shark attacks come from people struggling on the surface, rather than swimming fluidly. But as the shark comes closer and closer to the group, it starts to pick one person off at a time and keeps coming back for more. Knowing that they are in a bad place, Luke continues to push the group forward until it is just himself and Kate left. When they notice an above water reef, they start to gain hope, but the shark may have different ideas.

I am not a huge fan of the movies that are ‘based on a true story’, but this one has to be one of the best I have seen to date. Although it moves kind of slow, once the stark starts to attack, you are not able to take your eyes off of the screen. I really do appreciate how the story line played out and watching how the characters grow along with how they started to take note of their surroundings. Being trapped at sea could be one of the scariest things ever, as there is nothing you can do about the surrounding wildlife around you. I would wish this on no one, even on a cruise ship, as there is only one way to escape your situation and that is to get into the water and swim for it. Stay Scared!

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