<P> The Shallows is a 2016 American survival thriller film directed by Jaume Collet - Serra, written by Anthony Jaswinski and starring Blake Lively . In the film, a surfer gets stranded 200 yards (180 m) from shore, and must use her wits and determination to survive a great white shark attack . Principal photography began in October 2015 in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia . </P> <P> The film was released in the United States on June 24, 2016, by Columbia Pictures . The film received positive reviews and grossed over $119 million against a $17 million budget, becoming a box office success . </P> <P> Shortly after the death of her mother, medical student Nancy Adams travels to a secluded beach in Mexico, the same beach her mother visited while she was pregnant with Nancy . Carlos, a friendly local resident, gives Nancy a ride and drops her off at the beach . Nancy joins two other locals and the three surf for several hours . Taking a break from surfing, Nancy video - chats with her sister Chloe . When she talks to her father in an emotional and strained conversation, it is revealed that her mother's death caused Nancy to consider dropping out of medical school . </P> <P> While surfing one last time for the day, Nancy notices the carcass of a large humpback whale nearby . As she rides the last wave back to the beach, a large great white shark bumps her off her surfboard and bites her leg . Nancy climbs onto the whale carcass, but the shark rams it from underneath, forcing her to swim to an isolated rock . She uses her surfboard strap to slow the bleeding on her leg . Later she uses her jewelry to put rudimentary stitches in place to hold her torn flesh together . Nancy is left alone when the unaware locals leave the beach, and she spends the night on the rock with a wounded seagull, whom she names Steven Seagull . The next morning, a drunk local man on the beach steals Nancy's belongings . While wading out into the shallow water to steal Nancy's surfboard, he is killed by the shark . Several hours later, the two locals Nancy had surfed with the day before, return . They get into the water before Nancy can warn them away, and are also killed by the shark . </P>

Where is the movie the shallows supposed to take place