The Shallows

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, The Shallows is available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Peacock Premium and YouTube TV right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 5,365 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch Blake Lively work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason The Shallows keeps coming up in conversation. At its heart, The Shallows understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. While surfing on a secluded beach, Nancy finds herself in the feeding grounds of a great white shark. Though stranded only 200 yards from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of her ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude. Credit to Blake Lively and Óscar Jaenada for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. It was released in 2016. The Shallows is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, The Shallows delivers. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Blake Lively anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.