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Take Shelter

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Take Shelter

R

Released Sep 30, 2011

2h 4m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

167 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon) lives in a small Ohio town with his loving wife (Jessica Chastain) and hearing-impaired daughter (Tova Stewart). Though money is tight, he and his family are very happy. But then, Curtis begins having terrifying dreams about an apocalypse that threatens them all. Rather than confiding in Samantha, he begins building a storm shelter in the backyard, and his strange behavior causes tension in their marriage and the surrounding community.

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Critics Consensus

Michael Shannon gives a powerhouse performance and the purposefully subtle filmmaking creates a perfect blend of drama, terror, and dread.

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Geoff Andrew

Sight & Sound

What makes Nichols' film so satisfying, at least until the melodrama of the final act, is the deftness of the characterisations and the constant sense that things are probably considerably more complex than they're perceived.

Aug 29, 2017

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David Thomson

The New Republic

In my estimate, this unique and frequently arresting film suffers from the monotony of the lead players' affect, and from the film's urge to have its gloomy cake and eat it.

Jun 20, 2013

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Justin Chang

Variety

A hallucinatory thriller anchored by a deeply resonant sense of unease.

Jan 4, 2012

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Ray Pride

Newcity

Taut masterpiece of prescient dread... Day clouds are pretty and plain, puffs of white, expanse of common blue. Nichols finds telling details everywhere in the countryside, in mood akin to Eggleston but far from Shore.

Rated: 10/10

Jul 4, 2024

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Michael Leader

Den of Geek

Whether it achieves such standing or not, Take Shelter succeeds in something quite impressive.

Rated: 4/5

May 8, 2024

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

A captivating experience, thanks in large part to Michael Shannon's powerful performance, with the payoff only elevating the journey into something even more satisfying.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 24, 2023

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Faiz D

A slow, gloomy and unsettling portrayal of anxiety. It requires some intense concentration, but overall, is well deserving of its accolades.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Dave G

The best thing about this movie isn’t the end. It’s THAT it ends. Yes, the concept is interesting, the acting is brilliant, and the cinematography is excellent - all of which merit its single star. Likewise it’s akin to watching one single star for millennia - while civilizations rise and fall, galaxies form and die - only to have it implode in a momentary and deeply unsatisfying fizzle. Sadly, what remains is the black hole into which your time and attention have been sucked. Descriptions like “glacial pace” (frequently seen in reviews) or “being held in a hostage situation” lack the gravitas to capture its wallowing plod.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

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Mary H

Total waste of time, very boring

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

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Lance C

Well made, but if you want a movie that leaves you completely unsatisfied at the end with no explanation or closure, I recommend this. Actually I don't recommend this. Waste of talent, and my time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

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Lori D

This movie was full of probablility. Eery, foreboding and absolutely well done. Those that think otherwise, may not have appreciated the symbolism, and the true love of a couple. .Mental health twist, however for those of you that are Intuitive, perhaps will like this movie a bit more than one to whom is not. Suspenseful, in a calm, non chaotic way. Thumbs up to these actors, especially, hubby and wife, depicted this content beautifully. Nay sayers, I vehemantly disagree. Is a worth while watch! Lori

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

Full Review

Tony L

The ambiguous final scene, which can be interpreted at least three ways and probably more, ruined this film for me. I felt like I had just wasted two hours on the edge of my seat watching a psychological thriller build to a climax -- without a climax! I've never liked books with a let-the-reader-decide ending, and movies are even worse. The creators want everyone buzzing about what the ending means, and I'll tell you: it means you wasted your time on a copout.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/24/24

Full Review

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Jeff Nichols

Director

Michael Shannon

Curtis LaForche

Jessica Chastain

Samantha LaForche

Shea Whigham

Dewart

Katy Mixon

Nat

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Synopsis

Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon) lives in a small Ohio town with his loving wife (Jessica Chastain) and hearing-impaired daughter (Tova Stewart). Though money is tight, he and his family are very happy. But then, Curtis begins having terrifying dreams about an apocalypse that threatens them all. Rather than confiding in Samantha, he begins building a storm shelter in the backyard, and his strange behavior causes tension in their marriage and the surrounding community.

Director: Jeff Nichols
Producer: Tyler Davidson, Sophia Lin
Screenwriter: Jeff Nichols
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Strange Matter Films
Rating: R (Some Language)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 25, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
Runtime: 2h 4m

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