Take Shelter (2011)

A man plagued by apocalyptic visions struggles to decide whether to protect his family from a coming storm or from his own deteriorating mental state.

The story

In LaGrange, Ohio, construction worker Curtis LaForche experiences terrifying apocalyptic dreams and hallucinations of rain and menacing birds. While hiding these visions from his wife, Samantha, and their deaf daughter, Hannah, he becomes obsessed with building an elaborate storm shelter in his backyard. His increasingly erratic behavior and compulsive need to isolate his family strain his relationships with friends, his employer, and the local community. As his paranoia grows, Curtis fears he may be developing paranoid schizophrenia, a condition his mother suffered from, leading him to take drastic measures to ensure his family's safety.

First release year

2011

Runtime (minutes)

121

Production countries

United States

Original languages

English

Directors

Jeff Nichols

Writers

Jeff Nichols · writer

Cast and characters

Michael Shannon · Curtis LaForche; Jessica Chastain · Samantha; Shea Whigham · Dewart; Katy Mixon · Hannah; Kathy Baker · Sarah

Genres

psychological thriller; drama

Themes

masculinity; mental illness; protection

Tone and mood

dread; tense; subtle

Premise and plot tags

psychological drama; apocalyptic; construction worker; psychiatry; bunker

Reception

The film received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising Michael Shannon's powerhouse performance and the film's ability to create a sense of dread without relying on special effects gimmicks.

Reported review scores

Rotten Tomatoes · score: 92% · review count: 168; Metacritic · score: 85 · scale: 100 · review count: 34

Awards and nominations

Saturn Award · Best Writing · Won; Saturn Award · Best Actor · Won; Saturn Award · Best Horror or Thriller Film · Nominated; Saturn Award · Best Actress · Nominated; Critics' Week Grand Prix · 50th · Won; Fipresci award · International Federation of Film Critics · Won

Production trivia

The film was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011.; The film was shown at the 37th Deauville American Film Festival in September 2011.; The film was shown at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.

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