The Reef (2010 film)
Encyclopedia
The Reef is a 2010 Australian horror film. The film was written and directed by Andrew Traucki, his second feature film (the first being Black Water
), and is about a group of friends who capsize while sailing to Indonesia
. The group decides that their best bet for survival is to swim to a nearby island but find themselves stalked by a great white shark
.
) invites his friend Matt (Gyton Grantley
) and Matt's girlfriend, Suzie to join him as he sails to a coral reef. Also joining them is Luke's sister Kate (Zoe Naylor
) and fellow sailor Warren (Kieran Darcy-Smith). On the second day of their journey, the yacht strikes a reef and capsizes when the keel
is destroyed.
With the current taking them further away from land, Luke gathers supplies from the overturned vessel with the intention of swimming to nearby Turtle Island. With the group gathered on top of the overturned hull, Warren activates the yacht's EPIRB, but Luke informs him that it is an older model that requires a plane to fly overhead to receive the signal. When Luke suggests the others to join him in swimming to the island (which Luke estimates to be twelve miles away), Warren refuses as he believes the water is shark-infested. With encouragement Kate, Suzie and Matt follow Luke into the water as he begins the journey.
During their journey, the group find the carcass of a sea turtle that has had its head bitten off. On the overturned yacht, Warren spots a large Great White Shark
circling the vessel. Soon, the group are also stalked by (presumably) the same shark. It approaches them several times, even brushing past Kate, before leaving. Kate and Suzie are supported by Matt and Luke as they are both in shock
. However, during her encounter, Kate lost the bodyboard she was using as a flotation device. When Matt goes to retrieve it, he is attacked by the shark and his legs are severed. He is comforted by the group, but quickly dies. As night falls, Luke, Kate and Suzie are once more stalked by the shark. Suzie blames Luke for talking the group into swimming to an island he has seemingly lost.
In the morning, the group has drifted to a shallow area of the reef, where they are able to stand and rest. In the distance, they can see a larger rock formation protruding from the water, and they swim towards it. Paranoia affects the group as they continue. They share a laugh when they mistake a dolphin for the shark that took Matt. However, the shark soon returns and kills Suzie. Luke and Kate rest on the reef, and they both declare their love for each other. They begin to swim the final distance to the rocks as the shark closes in. Luke assists Kate in climbing to safety, but as he climbs onto the rocks the shark seizes him and drags him beneath the water.
The written epilogue reveals that Kate was rescued by a fishing boat the following day, however extensive searches failed to locate Warren or the vessel.
Rob Gaison, the chief executive of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, was concerned about the film being advertised as "based on a true story" which he felt could hurt the tourist industry for the area. Col McKenzie, the CEO of Association of Marine Park Operators, said that previous films about sharks near reefs attacking people such as Open Water had hurt the tourism industry.
in May 2010. It was later shown at South Korea's Pusan Film Festival on 10 October 2010 and Spain's Sitges Film Festival.
The film's Australian premiere was in late 2010 at both the Brisbane and Canberra film festivals. The film will receive a wide Australian release by Pinnacle in March 2011. Director Traucki said that "The biggest release we can hope for is 30 screens, which is what you get for Australian films, unless you make something like Australia
."
The film was released straight-to-DVD in the United Kingdom
in January 2011.
The film has received mixed to positive reviews, and currently holds a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
, based on 13 reviews.
Black Water (film)
Black Water is a 2007 Australian horror/thriller film set in the mangrove seas of northern Australia. It was written and directed by Andrew Traucki and David Nerlich and stars Diana Glenn, Maeve Dermody and Andy Rodoreda...
), and is about a group of friends who capsize while sailing to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. The group decides that their best bet for survival is to swim to a nearby island but find themselves stalked by a great white shark
Great white shark
The great white shark, scientific name Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. It is known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached...
.
Plot
Luke) invites his friend Matt (Gyton Grantley
Gyton Grantley
Gyton Grantley is a Logie Award and AFI Award-winning Australian actor, best known for his portrayal of convicted murderer and drug trafficker Carl Williams in the hit Australian television show Underbelly, for which he was nominated for both Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series and Most...
) and Matt's girlfriend, Suzie to join him as he sails to a coral reef. Also joining them is Luke's sister Kate (Zoe Naylor
Zoe Naylor
Zoe Naylor is an Australian actress as well as journalist, presenter, MC, model, voice-artist and producer.-Early life:...
) and fellow sailor Warren (Kieran Darcy-Smith). On the second day of their journey, the yacht strikes a reef and capsizes when the keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
is destroyed.
With the current taking them further away from land, Luke gathers supplies from the overturned vessel with the intention of swimming to nearby Turtle Island. With the group gathered on top of the overturned hull, Warren activates the yacht's EPIRB, but Luke informs him that it is an older model that requires a plane to fly overhead to receive the signal. When Luke suggests the others to join him in swimming to the island (which Luke estimates to be twelve miles away), Warren refuses as he believes the water is shark-infested. With encouragement Kate, Suzie and Matt follow Luke into the water as he begins the journey.
During their journey, the group find the carcass of a sea turtle that has had its head bitten off. On the overturned yacht, Warren spots a large Great White Shark
Great white shark
The great white shark, scientific name Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. It is known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached...
circling the vessel. Soon, the group are also stalked by (presumably) the same shark. It approaches them several times, even brushing past Kate, before leaving. Kate and Suzie are supported by Matt and Luke as they are both in shock
Acute stress reaction
Acute stress reaction is a psychological condition arising in response to a terrifying or traumatic event...
. However, during her encounter, Kate lost the bodyboard she was using as a flotation device. When Matt goes to retrieve it, he is attacked by the shark and his legs are severed. He is comforted by the group, but quickly dies. As night falls, Luke, Kate and Suzie are once more stalked by the shark. Suzie blames Luke for talking the group into swimming to an island he has seemingly lost.
In the morning, the group has drifted to a shallow area of the reef, where they are able to stand and rest. In the distance, they can see a larger rock formation protruding from the water, and they swim towards it. Paranoia affects the group as they continue. They share a laugh when they mistake a dolphin for the shark that took Matt. However, the shark soon returns and kills Suzie. Luke and Kate rest on the reef, and they both declare their love for each other. They begin to swim the final distance to the rocks as the shark closes in. Luke assists Kate in climbing to safety, but as he climbs onto the rocks the shark seizes him and drags him beneath the water.
The written epilogue reveals that Kate was rescued by a fishing boat the following day, however extensive searches failed to locate Warren or the vessel.
Cast
- Adrienne PickeringAdrienne Pickering-Biography:Pickering stars in one of the female lead roles of the Australian natural drama-thriller film The Reef.-Television career:She also played the recurring role of Detective Christine Taylor in the BBC-commissioned soap opera Out of the Blue. She appears on Home And Away as Natalie Franklin,...
as Suzie - Zoe NaylorZoe NaylorZoe Naylor is an Australian actress as well as journalist, presenter, MC, model, voice-artist and producer.-Early life:...
as Kate - Damian Walshe-HowlingDamian Walshe-HowlingDamian Walshe-Howling is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Andrew "Benji" Veniamin in the Australian underworld drama, Underbelly, for which he won the Best Supporting or Guest Actor in a Drama Series at the 2008 AFI Awards.-Biography:He also starred on Blue Heelers as Constable Adam...
as Luke - Gyton GrantleyGyton GrantleyGyton Grantley is a Logie Award and AFI Award-winning Australian actor, best known for his portrayal of convicted murderer and drug trafficker Carl Williams in the hit Australian television show Underbelly, for which he was nominated for both Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series and Most...
as Matt - Kieran Darcy-Smith as Warren
Production
The film is based on the true story of Ray Boundy, who was the sole survivor of similar incident in 1983. The film's five-week shoot began on 12 October 2009 in Queensland's Hervey Bay, Fraser Island and Bowen Bay, with additional shark footage completed in South Australia. While in production of the film, cameras were streaming the film online on the film's website on 5 November. Traucki stated that "This kind of marketing strategy is absolutely vital" and "the mentality inside the Australian industry doesn't usually get behind original marketing strategies like this. I have ended up building this one myself, late at night with my web team."Rob Gaison, the chief executive of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, was concerned about the film being advertised as "based on a true story" which he felt could hurt the tourist industry for the area. Col McKenzie, the CEO of Association of Marine Park Operators, said that previous films about sharks near reefs attacking people such as Open Water had hurt the tourism industry.
Release
The Reef had its world premiere as a market screening at the Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
in May 2010. It was later shown at South Korea's Pusan Film Festival on 10 October 2010 and Spain's Sitges Film Festival.
The film's Australian premiere was in late 2010 at both the Brisbane and Canberra film festivals. The film will receive a wide Australian release by Pinnacle in March 2011. Director Traucki said that "The biggest release we can hope for is 30 screens, which is what you get for Australian films, unless you make something like Australia
Australia (2008 film)
Australia is a 2008 epic historical romance film directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. It is the second-highest grossing Australian film of all time, behind Crocodile Dundee. The screenplay was written by Luhrmann and screenwriter Stuart Beattie, with Ronald Harwood...
."
The film was released straight-to-DVD in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in January 2011.
The film has received mixed to positive reviews, and currently holds a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, based on 13 reviews.