The Reef: Stalked
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The Reef: Stalked
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Reef: Stalked is a thriller about a group of female Australian kayakers who are stalked by a shark and subsequently features near constant threat and occasional bloody violence. During a trip designed to help Nic (Teressa Liane) recover from a personal tragedy, the main characters show themselves to be brave and compassionate, only occasionally snapping at each other under pressure. Owing to Nic's trauma there is some discussion of mental health as her friends try to help her find her passion for kayaking and diving again. The violence is brief and mainly revolves around the main quartet of characters' battles with a killer shark. Death and some dead bodies are shown, as well as some bloody injury, but neither is graphic. There is also domestic violence, with a woman berated and killed by her partner. There is not much swearing, although as the tension increases, characters are more frequently use "f--k" and "s--t."
What's the Story?
THE REEF: STALKED pits grieving kayaker Nic (Teressa Liane), her younger sister, Annie (Saskia Archer), and two friends against a killer shark.
Is It Any Good?
This standalone sequel to Australian writer-director Andrew Traucki's 2010's cult hit The Reef shares a title and a shark with its predecessor but not much else. The Reef: Stalked's mix of real-life and special effects footage of sharks -- which was one of the reasons the original movie was praised -- is also back. But this movie doesn't manage to repeat the slow-burning intrigue of its predecessor, with an uneven balance between the movie's action and thriller elements, and the emotional journey of its lead.
Liane does her best to keep Nic focused on the task at hand while processing a prior tragic loss. However, there's not enough backstory about her or the other characters to sustain them when they leave the shore. So, unsurprisingly, Jaws this isn't. The dialogue is mostly fraught and frenzied, as different characters attempt to bat away a killer shark armed with not much more than their kayak paddles and teamwork. The most remarkable aspect of the film is that for a 90-minute life-and-death battle, it lacks any sense of drama or danger.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Reef: Stalked. How much was shown and how much was suggested? How did this affect you?
Did you find the movie scary? Why do some people like being scared?
How did some of the characters show teamwork, courage, and perseverance? Why are these such important character strengths to have? Can you think of a time when you've shown these traits in your own life?
Talk about the strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How did the movie address grief? How did affect certain characters? Why is it important that we grieve for loved ones rather than repress it?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 29, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: July 29, 2022
- Cast: Teressa Liane, Ann Truong, Saskia Archer
- Director: Andrew Traucki
- Studio: RLJE Films
- Genre: Thriller
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Ocean Creatures
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: January 20, 2023
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