Take Shelter Review

Take Shelter, directed by Jeff Nichols, follows Curtis (Michael Shannon), a family man from Ohio who simply wants to take care of his family. He works hard at his job, and supports his wife and young daughter who has hearing problems. Everything seems to be going smoothly for him as his family plans to get their daughter help and even move to a nice house by the beach. But nightmarish dreams start to torment Curtis. He knows he could have some type of mental illness, because his mother suffered from mental illness and had to be put in a home when he was ten. Either a huge storm is going to come and wipe out the world, or he will have to leave his family due to his illness. The stress of trying to prevent an unwanted future creates marvelous tension in the film. But his attempt to change things, ironically make this doom approach faster. Curtis spends a ton of money expanding the storm shelter in his backyard. This investment will put a hold on his daughter's treatment as well as wipe out the savings for his new home. While he is trying to protect his family, his actions start to push them further away. The film seems to comment on today's economic crisis as money is a reoccurring motif in the film. But we all know that storm has come, and our country is trying to deal with it. Maybe the ways we try to deal with it, however, is only making things worse. We need to be more prepared, perhaps.

From the very beginning of the film, there is a strong sense of doom. Curtis stands in awe and fear of an ominous storm looming towards him. Next to his feet, in his front yard, sits a small garden with a few sad flowers and a yard stone that eerily resembles a gravestone. It creates a sense that this approaching doom cannot be stopped, it is as certain as death. In a scene, which yet again showcases Shannon's talent as an actor, he screams at his peers who are sitting at tables eating dinner. As he stands in the middle of the room, his friends sit in rows, and it is hard to not see this as some type of sermon. Curtis preaches, "There is a storm coming! And not a' one of you are prepared." He is criticized for not having attended church recently by his father in law, but there is always a religious undertone to the film, as if a plague is approaching, that humanity is about to face the rapture. Or it could all be one man's illness. Throughout the whole film, the audience will question whether or not Curtis is really crazy or whether or not he truly has some biblical, prophetic vision.

The film has stunning visuals. It is an enthralling drama that has a few special affects that will shock you. The movie is subtle, but profoundly visual at times. With a dream sequence that creates a sense of falling as the furniture in the room starts to levitate in mid air. There is a paradoxical effect of staying still but falling at the same time. An appropriate feeling for the entire film. But the films strongest aspect are the performances. The building tension in the film would fail if not for Shannon's talent. While we are used to Shannon playing characters who are out of their minds, he brings a unique calm, yet stern presence to the film. Only it is a calmness that makes you feel like it will explode at any moment. The audience will fell the stress that Curtis feels, they will be angry at him, they will sympathize with him, and maybe even cry due to the torment he faces. I will not ruin anything for you, but the ending is tricky. And it will affect how you see the film for better or for worse. Which ever way you want to read this film, the ending will be a crucial factor in shaping that interpretation. While it is not the most complex film out there today, it is one of the most unique. I highly recommend going out to see this one. Simply put, the film has amazing moments that must be experienced. There will be moments where your mouth will be left open as if staring into a huge storm bearing down on you.