History Film / SoulSurfer

* BloodIsSquickerInWater: Good god.

* BasedOnATrueStory

%%* DaddysGirl: Bethany, who is close to her father. He is the first she turns to to train for the competition.

%%* PluckyGirl: Bethany.

%%* RealMenLoveJesus: And women. Bethany and her family are Church-going people attending Sunday services.

%%* SceneryPorn: ''Hawaii''. All of the scenery is gorgeous.

* DaylightHorror: The shark attack happens on a beautiful sunny morning, just like it did in real life.

* AdultFear: Having your child attacked by a dangerous animal is a big one.

* IWantMyMommy: Bethany mumbles, "I want my mom," when she's lying on the beach after the shark attack. During her ambulance ride, the paramedic tries to keep her awake by encouraging her to talk, and she says, "Where's my family?" Then when she wakes up after surgery, the first thing she says is, "Mom?" This time, her mom is right there to comfort her.

* OhCrap: It describes the look on Bethany's dad's face perfectly when a nurse tells his surgeon that they're bringing in a teenage girl who got attacked by a shark--and he knows his daughter was out surfing.

** Bethany's mom is so upset after hearing about her daughter's arm, she forgets to put her minivan in Park after arriving at the hospital.
** Alana's dad takes up two parking spaces with his truck.

* AlohaHawaii: The film is both set and filmed there.

* HomeschooledKids: Bethany, Alana and other onscreen adolescence are ever at school. Because the best surfing hours are during school.

%%* HomeschooledKids: Bethany, Alana and other onscreen adolescence are ever at school. Because the best surfing hours are during school.
%%* IJustWantToBeNormal: Normal is so overrated. Bethany struggles to be normal again after the loss of her arm.

%%* TrainingMontage: After turning to her father for help to get back in the competition, shots are shown of Bethany doing sit-ups and learning to balance again on her surf board without the use of her arm.

* JumpScare: When Bethany and Alana are surfing in the water, all is peaceful and quiet. Then a shark pops out of the water and takes Bethany's arm off in one bite.

%%* DaddysGirl: Bethany

%%* HeelFaceTurn: Malina

%%* HomeschooledKids: Because the best surfing hours are during school.
%%* IJustWantToBeNormal: Normal is so overrated.

%%* RealMenLoveJesus: And women.

%%* SceneryPorn: ''Hawaii''.

%%* TrainingMontage

* VomitIndiscretionShot: Alana throws up on the beach after the shark attack.

%%* "WhereAreTheyNow?" Epilogue

%%* ThreateningShark

* OhCrap: It describes the look on Bethany's dad's face perfectly when he a nurse tells his surgeon that they're bringing in a teenage girl who got attacked by a shark--and he knows his daughter was out surfing.

* DaddysGirl: Bethany

* {{Fanservice}}: Bethany and Alana [[WalkingSwimsuitScene spend most of the movie in bikinis]]. ([[JustifiedTrope They're surfers in Hawaii, after all]]). Most notably, Alana's photoshoot.
** In point of fact Bethany rather disliked the photoshoot, saying in her memoirs that it made Alana look more exhibitionistic then she really was.
** Bethany and the other surfers usually wear a jersey over their swimsuits during the actual surfing scenes.
* FriendsRentControl: The family lives in a very nice house, with zero mention of what either parent's job is. And if the mother is homeschooling the children, it's possible she doesn't work at all. At the time of the attack in real life, Bethany's father was a waiter and her mother cleaned condos. Not exactly the kind of salaries that could normally afford a big house right on the beach in Hawaii.
** Though Bethany’s father was a waiter at the Princeville Resort which is not at the same level as someone waiting tables at say Applebees. He probably made a good amount of money and housing prices on the islands tend to skew a bit on the cheaper side.

* HeelFaceTurn: Malina

* HomeschooledKids: Because the best surfing hours are during school.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Normal is so overrated.

* MsFanservice: Every female character provides a bit of fanservice, but Alana still manages to stand out. TruthInTelevision, [[http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/963/843/Alana-Blanchard-a_display_image.jpg?1306341263 just look at her!]]
* OhCrap: Describes the look on Bethany's dad's face perfectly when he a nurse tells his surgeon that they're bringing in a teenage girl who got attacked by a shark--and he knows his daughter was out surfing.
* OminousLatinChanting: Well, Hawaii. Used to great effect on the way to the hospital.
* ParkingProblems: Bethany's mom is so upset after hearing about her daughter's arm, she forgets to put her minivan in Park after arriving at the hospital.

* PluckyGirl: Bethany.
* RealityIsUnrealistic: Some people complained that the large bite taken out of the board was cartoonish and unrealistic. [[http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=6395339 They]] were [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/picturegalleries/5900882/Bethany-Hamilton-the-surfer-who-lost-one-arm-in-a-shark-attack-is-competing-again.html?image=2 wrong]].
** Bethany wrote later that she was ''calmer'' during the incident than the movie showed.
* RealMenLoveJesus: And women.

* SceneryPorn: ''Hawaii''.

* ThreateningShark
* TrainingMontage

* "WhereAreTheyNow?" Epilogue

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Practically everyone, with the exception of Alana, a real-life model, who is ''[[http://www.empiresports.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/empire-sports-Alana-Blanchard-Surfing.jpg even more attractive]]'' than her film counterpart.
** Though the real Bethany is much taller.

* TalentDouble: While an actor plays Bethany in the dialogue, Bethany ''was her own stunt double'', conveniently being perfectly qualified, as well as saving the effects crew from having to erase a stunt double's arm like they did with [=AnnaSophia=] Robb. In other words, when you see the surfing scenes, you are ''actually watching Bethany Hamilton.'' And it doesn't look like it should be called "surfing". It should be called [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMoments dancing on the water]].

The film follows the effect of the shark attack on Bethany's personal life and her surfing career.