Take Shelter (2011)
Written By: FR
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Jeff Nichols
Writer: Jeff Nichols
Producers: Sophia Lin, Tyler Davidson
Date Released: November 10, 2011
Cast:
Michael Shannon as Curtis LaForche
Jessica Chastain as Samantha LaForche
Shea Whigham as Dewart
Katy Mixon as Nat
Kathy Baker as Sarah#
Ray McKinnon as Kyle
Lisa Gay Hamilton as Kendra
Tova Stewart as Hannah LaForche
Stuart Greer as Army/Navy Dave
Rating = 3.5/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Curtis (Michael Shannon), a father and a husband, starts experiencing bad dreams and hallucinations. Being his mother currently committed to a mental asylum, he thought he was experiencing the same mental illness. So he seeks medical help and tried to reconnect with his mother trying to find the cause of his predicament. As days passed, the seizure gets worst and at the same time, his premonitions are getting stronger. Fearing the worst, he starts building an elaborate storm shelter in his backyard. By doing so, he lost his job and threatens his relationship with his family. But he is convinced that this storm shelter will save his family from an eminent disaster.
Gore Factor
There is no gore or blood and guts in this film. The scenes are disturbing in the way that the characters are being developed throughout the film. There are a few attack scenes and implied violence but not really shown on camera. There are some very intense scenes involving the anticipated coming of the storm. There is a particular scene of the birds falling of the sky reminiscent of the Hitchcock movie which paraphrase the coming of an ominous event.
The Grave Review
The film is a frightening thriller based not on special effects and bloody slash and bash movies. It caters on the developing fear of dread of an upcoming catastrophe slowly creeping into the landscape: that the people’s safety is in danger and there’s nothing that can be done to prevent it from happening.
It is the amazing performance of Michael Shannon as Curtis LaForche that made the movie one of the best acted films. He was able to portray a doting father and husband and at the same time struggling with his mental stability. He effectively was able to evoke a deep unease by using his eyes and facial expression.
The film is well paced leading to the arrival of the destruction although not shown but left to the audience’s interpretation. The feeling of dread is maintained throughout the film. It is brilliantly held on by the light dialogue but the every scene flows smoothly on the screen.
The unsettling final scene is wide open to interpretation. But it’s clear that Nichols is less interested in the last word on Curtis’ sanity than he is in conveying how fear has become an inescapable part of our world, and how family can endure, even in the face of disaster.
Because of the above reasons, Grave Reviews gives Take Shelter (2011) three and half graves out of five graves.
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