Take Shelter

Name: Take Shelter
Genre: Drama
Released: September 30, 2011
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham

2011

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 247 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 247 Ratings

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Take Shelter

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: September 30, 2011 | R

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham

Summary: Curtis LaForche lives in a small town in Ohio with his wife, Samantha, and daughter, Hannah, a six-year-old deaf girl. When Curtis begins to have terrifying dreams, he keeps the visions to himself, channeling his anxiety into obsessively building a storm shelter in his backyard. His seemingly inexplicable behavior concerns and confoundsCurtis LaForche lives in a small town in Ohio with his wife, Samantha, and daughter, Hannah, a six-year-old deaf girl. When Curtis begins to have terrifying dreams, he keeps the visions to himself, channeling his anxiety into obsessively building a storm shelter in his backyard. His seemingly inexplicable behavior concerns and confounds those closest to him, but the resulting strain on his marriage and tension within his community can't compare with Curtis's privately held fear of what his dreams may truly signify. (Sony Pictures Classics)

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Director: Jeff Nichols

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 120 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Steve Persall

Aug 2, 2017

Shannon is perfectly cast, a creepily magnetic actor with an otherworldly calm, tight jaw and piercing, set-apart eyes. The performance and movie stick with you, with masterful construction and muted psychological horror. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

Oct 5, 2011

The film concludes not with a "surprise ending" but with a series of shots that brilliantly summarize all that has gone before. This is masterful filmmaking. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Sep 28, 2011

Writer-director Jeff Nichols builds his elegantly shot, weather-sensitive horror story in waves of tension that crest as if pulled by tempests. Read full review

Ty Burr

Oct 20, 2011

Take Shelter plays Curtis's unraveling at daring length. The film will be too slow and dark for some, and it's definitely overlong. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Sep 30, 2011

Nichols approaches his subject with thoughtful empathy, and while his themes are enormous - he's addressing no less than the state of our nation - he wisely underplays even the most important moments. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Oct 27, 2011

Take Shelter is a deeply unsettling movie. Writer/director Jeff Nichols (an Austin resident and director of the award-winning 2007 feature "Shotgun Stories") doles out information as strategically as a government official. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Oct 6, 2011

Take Shelter has a problem, the simplest of all problems but no less serious for its being simple. It's a film without suspense and with a slow-moving story that unfolds without surprise or embellishment. Read full review

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User Reviews

cabrita

Feb 4, 2012

A masterful film with subtle direction red hairings and a multitude of suspense. The director slowly build his suspense throuought the film until it's climax. However after the climax comes a revelation that is not only startling but also intriguing. This event causes one to rethinkA masterful film with subtle direction red hairings and a multitude of suspense. The director slowly build his suspense throuought the film until it's climax. However after the climax comes a revelation that is not only startling but also intriguing. This event causes one to rethink everything he has just saw. I thought WOW!… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

geewah

Feb 3, 2022

A brilliant and powerful movie that looks at mental health and societal judgement in a thought provoking manner.
A superb performance from Shannon, brilliantly shot and directed, this one of the most underrated movies of recent times.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

worleyjamers

Dec 6, 2012

One of the best films of 2011. A brilliant film in every way. Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain give Oscar caliber performances in this emotional drama. The last 30-40 minutes are some of the most intense I've ever seen. I absolutely loved it!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Khunter4382

Feb 17, 2012

Shannon & Chastain are remarkable in this film. It is in these performances that keep the film grounded and engaging. Shannon portrays a man that is truly terrified, down the the very fiber of his being.....and even when everyone else in the film doubts him, he still draws belief from theShannon & Chastain are remarkable in this film. It is in these performances that keep the film grounded and engaging. Shannon portrays a man that is truly terrified, down the the very fiber of his being.....and even when everyone else in the film doubts him, he still draws belief from the audience. I found myself wondering the whole film, "What if he is right?" Throughout the entire film, that question contains far too grave of repercussions to merit dismissal, which makes this film engaging to the very last moments.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

FDT44

Feb 24, 2012

Perhaps too drowsy in pace for some, "Take Shelter" is not easy to enjoy; it's a ponderously, slow simmer that yearns for one's admiration, while never losing the viewer's interest. The film echoes a sense of dread and anxiety, channeling Shannon's dark, slightly unhinged, sullen aura, hisPerhaps too drowsy in pace for some, "Take Shelter" is not easy to enjoy; it's a ponderously, slow simmer that yearns for one's admiration, while never losing the viewer's interest. The film echoes a sense of dread and anxiety, channeling Shannon's dark, slightly unhinged, sullen aura, his trademark loomy stature and coarse features; he brings to life a "Curtis" character who is so malleable in his purpose, that no one can tell what's to happen next. Moreover, it feels as if what the audience is seeing has much more depth, as if another layer of subtext is just waiting to show itself. Nichols paints a portrait that is both astounding and riveting to hold on to, grimmacing and shuddering uneasily with anticipation and pent-up apprehension, driven by self-discovery, and down-right frightening in the most eerie of feelings. Although it is Shannon that reels in arguably the best performance of his career, more than worthy of an Oscar nomination, Chastain is incidentally moving, though mostly captured in her spot-lighted contemplation and worry. Notwithstanding near impeccable casting, editing, musical accompaniment, and cinematography, not all will appreciate "Take Shelter" due to its slothlike pace, frustratingly ambiguous, conflicting religious and metaphysical themes and interpretations, and its crazed, schizophrenic sequences. Pack plenty of whitey-tighties, because this one's a nightmare.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

TVJerry

Nov 8, 2011

Michael Shannon is making a career out of playing dramatic, on-the-edge characters. This time, he's having a gradual encounter with mental illness, He suffers from disturbing nightmares and hallucinations that threaten his safety, while trying to hold down a job and be a good father/husband.Michael Shannon is making a career out of playing dramatic, on-the-edge characters. This time, he's having a gradual encounter with mental illness, He suffers from disturbing nightmares and hallucinations that threaten his safety, while trying to hold down a job and be a good father/husband. There's an involving story here, but almost every scene takes too long to unfold. This means the movie is slow and frustrating, although the weather effects are well done.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Broyax

Jan 14, 2017

Dans le genre peu répandu du film "suis-je fou, Docteur ? enfermez-moi au cas où !" Take Shelter est très loin de K-Pax, l'un des rares exemples qui me viennent à l'esprit, lui-même non exempt de quelque défaut comme... la mollesse. Mais si K-Pax avait parfois sa léthargie, alors TakeDans le genre peu répandu du film "suis-je fou, Docteur ? enfermez-moi au cas où !" Take Shelter est très loin de K-Pax, l'un des rares exemples qui me viennent à l'esprit, lui-même non exempt de quelque défaut comme... la mollesse. Mais si K-Pax avait parfois sa léthargie, alors Take Shelter n'a même pas deux de tension : il est si lymphatique et si mou qu'on tombe comme une masse rien qu'à essayer de le regarder.

En vérité, Take Shelter n'inspire aucune tension, aucune réelle interrogation, aucun doute, aucune ambiguité : on dirait vraiment un film réalisé par un écolier, le petit gars qui rentre de l'école et raconte sa journée banale, comme toutes les journées d'ailleurs, et il reste là à raconter sa journée qui n'intéresse personne mais à laquelle les membres de la famille adressent une vague attention polie parce que le gamin raconte toujours les mêmes conneries tous les jours.

Ce réalisateur est donc comme ce môme qui se regarde le nombril et raconte ses conneries, espérant capter l'attention sauf que tout le monde s'en fout de ses conneries. Putain, va te mettre dans ton abri, va pas t'y mettre, crie au loup, ne crie pas au loup, on s'en branle. Du coup, même la présence de la rouquine Chastain ne parvient pas à combler ce remplissage psychoteux plat et amorphe qui dure deux interminables heures. Echec complet.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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16	#16 Best Movie of 2011
77	#77 Most Discussed Movie of 2011
53	#53 Most Shared Movie of 2011