Being a Floridian almost all my life, I found this movie to be extremely unrealistic, for several reasons. (Spoiler alert) First, when Hailey breaks through the closed road sign, there isnโt one law enforcement officer in the state of Florida that would have not gone after her during a mandatory evacuation due to a cat 5 hurricane (she never would have been able to go southbound on I-75 anyway because during evacs, they turn the entire interstate into northbound highways). Second, alligators are not like crocodiles. They are somewhat docile reptiles and donโt just attack humans at the sight of them like they did in this movie (otherwise NONE of us would ever be able to swim in lakes here). They attack if they are protecting a nest and you happen to get too close, or if they are hungry and mistake a dog or other small being for something they usually eat. Third, 2-3 bullets through the throat didnโt stop the alligator (it took 5 or 6), but a flare burn will? Lastly, there is no way on earth a helicopter, of all aircrafts (very light and not able to withstand cat 5 winds) would come to rescue anyone, no matter what, in the throes of a hurricane, no matter what category it was. That would just not happen.
On the up side, it was a good mid summer โdonโt go in the waterโ movie with a few good jump scares. I wouldnโt discourage anyone not to see it, just donโt expect too much. Especially if you are a Floridian.