The Reef (2010)

Director:

Andrew Traucki

Writers:

Andrew Traucki (written by) and
James M. Vernon (script editor)

Release Date:

1 March 2011 (Mexico)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Pray that you drown first

Plot:

A great white shark hunts the crew of a capsized sailboat along the Great Barrier Reef.

Plot Keywords:

Shark | Great White Shark | Boat | Underwater | Boat Accident

Cast

Damian Walshe-Howling	...	Luke
Gyton Grantley	...	Matt
Adrienne Pickering	...	Suzie
Zoe Naylor	...	Kate
Kieran Darcy-Smith	...	Warren

Directed by
Andrew Traucki

Writing credits
Andrew Traucki		(written by)
James M. Vernon		script editor (as James Michael Vernon)

Produced by
Michael Baskin	....	executive producer
Richard Goldberg	....	co-executive producer (as Rich Goldberg)
Richard S. Guardian	....	co-executive producer
Janine Pearce	....	executive producer
Michael Robertson	....	producer
Tiare Tomaszewski	....	co-producer
Tiare Tomaszewski	....	line producer
Dean Toovey	....	associate producer
Andrew Traucki	....	producer

Original Music by
Rafael May

Cinematography by
Daniel Ardilley

Film Editing by
Peter Crombie

Casting by
Anousha Zarkesh

Production Design by
Adam Head

Art Direction by
Adam Head

Makeup Department
Sheldon Wade	....	makeup designer

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Drew Bailey	....	first assistant director
Adam Smillie	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Chris Holland	....	second unit stand-by prop
Dylan Schenkeveld	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
Adam Connelly	....	foley editor
George Turnure	....	foley artist
Andy Wright	....	dialogue editor

Visual Effects by
Doug Bayne	....	visual effects
Shahane Bekarian	....	visual effects artist
Michael Blake	....	visual effects
Bill McGuire	....	visual effects

Stunts
Che McGuinness	....	safety diver

Camera and Electrical Department
Luis Antonio Bran	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Simon Christidis	....	cinematographer: second unit
Earle Dresner	....	second unit cinematographer
Zane Kamat	....	data wrangler
Zane Kamat	....	underwater camera assistant
Sandy McLennan	....	second assistant camera
Rhys Nicholson	....	second assistant camera

Editorial Department
Annabelle Johnson	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Stephen Davis	....	script editor
Duncan Jones	....	location manager
Gordon Jones	....	marine coordinator
Peter Kalos	....	viral actor
Francis Lambert	....	second unit medic
Jen Lambert	....	unit nurse (as Jennifer Lambert)
Adam Mannering	....	web original music
Andy Marriot	....	viral director
Che McGuinness	....	co-marine coordinator
Benedict Paxton-Crick	....	script supervisor
Peter Scheffer	....	viral marketer
Christine Williams	....	production co-ordinator

Thanks
Mike Cowap	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Lightning Entertainment
• Screen Australia
• Screen NSW (in association with)
• ProdigyMovies (in association with)
• Mysterious Light (in association with)

Distributors

• Face to Face (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Film Depot (2010) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2010) (UK) (theatrical)
• Pasatiempo (2010) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Pioneer Films (2011) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Pony Canyon (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Delta Pictures (2011) (Italy) (DVD)
• Eagle Films (2010) (Non-USA) (all media) (middle east)
• Image Entertainment
• Image Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)
• Pinnacle Films (2011) (Australia) (all media)

Other Companies

• National Bank of California  financing provided by
• Soundfirm  sound post-production

Also Known As:

"Shark Attack" - Philippines (English title) (imdb display title)
"Open Water" - Japan (English title) (short title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

Germany:94 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:15 (DVD rating) | Mexico:B | South Korea:18 | Australia:M | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | USA:R (certificate #46758) | Germany:12 | Japan:G | Singapore:PG13 | Malaysia:PG-13 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Company:

Lightning Entertainment

Trivia:

Shot in five weeks.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Matt:Hey, hey! Hello, mate.
Luke:Oh, it's good to see you.
Matt:You too.
Luke:How are you?
Matt:Great!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nostalgia Critic: Gordy (#4.19)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Keep It Comin'

"Jaws" in "Open Water"

When I saw, I could be the first one to write a review for this movie, I thought to myself, that's a chance not to let go! And here I go... If you're familiar with horror flicks in general and animal terror-flicks in detail you'll find yourself reminded of the notorious "Jaws" (well, of course since it's the godfather of Shark-films), "Open Water" and, if you know who the director is, also of his latest film "Black Water". To be honest, "The Reef" hasn't many similarities to "Jaws". It has though many similarities to "Open Water", and if you liked that last named, you'll definitely like "The Reef". The style of direction here uses perspectives from the point of view of the protagonists and therefor also a lot of shaky-cam. Although this is no revolution in directing anymore, it surely succeeds in adding realism to this movie and giving the audience the feeling of being one of the group. The characters are all very authentic, without the typical stereotypes in the Hollywood-made animal horror-flicks, so it gets very easy to feel sympathy for and identify with the characters (like in "Black Water"). Because the director probably didn't have the biggest budget to spent for his movie he made clever choices in what to show and what to leave to the imagination of the viewer. It's always better to show effects only if they're worth to show, and so does Traucki in this movie. For example Traucki doesn't show how the yacht capsizes or delivers an exact explanation why it overturns, but not in the way that he's cheating the audience by keeping back important information. He just puts you in the situation of the individuals and doesn't give you the chance of seeing from a bird's perspective what has happened to the yacht. But what he shows to us is very well made. The shark looks, moves and behaves like a shark, like the animal that is the most dangerous predator in the seas, and not like an exaggerated monster from outer space. Unfortunately it's pretty easy to estimate what's happening next in the movie, but that's due to the simple setting in the sea, with water and almost nothing but water. What the film manages very well is getting never boring and holding the audience's attention during the whole duration of the movie. You can say that the movie shouldn't have lasted longer though, the duration is perfect. And now... go and see the movie yourself...or just take a swim!