The Reef - 2010 * * * 1/2

There isn't a huge amount to say on 'The Reef', but only because everyone knows the basic story anyway, it's been done so many times that I find it amazing directors still think they are coming up with an 'original' idea.

Using their friend's sail-boat a group of friends decide to go out to the Great Barrier Reef to dive. ( sound familiar?) Everything is wonderful until the boat crashes into some underwater rocks ( what a surprise, having rocks at the barrier reef...) and capsizes. The End. Not really.

Aware that the upturned boat is sinking fast the friends realise that they can either stay on the boat and hope someone finds them ( how..??) or make a swim for an island that one of the blokes claims is 'about 12 miles away' ( although he has no idea what direction so for all they know they could be swimming in circles) . All but one of the friends decide to make the trip leaving one man left on the sinking vessel. *SPOILERS* - The rest of the film involves a lot of screaming, groaning, moaning and looks of amazement as the group experience sharks, sharks and, well the same shark over an over again. In my opinion the poor shark is minding his own business and only becomes attracted to the group because they are yelling and thrashing about like they are on something. Added to which the smart-arse who is leading the group can't resist swimming underwater to get a good glimpse of the shark everytime someone spots a fin about 100 miles away and if I was a shark this would drive me barmy. All I can say is they all had it coming. If they were quiet and stopped shrieking and dragging their blood-stained feet through the water the shark wouldn't have noticed them, what's a shark to do?

A film you don't need to watch because if you've seen any shark-related movies ( Jaws, Open Water, Adrift) then you've already seen this. You just don't know it yet. Look at that, I did say a huge amount.

Anyway!