SHELTER DVD (2010)

SYNOPSIS: Julianne Moore (The Forgotten) is Dr. Cara Jessup, is an esteemed psychologist who specialises in multiple personality disorders, but nothing has prepared her for a new patient, Adam (Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors). The more she unearths about Adam, the more her life and those closest to her are endangered. As she explores Adam’s past, Cara’s world begins to fall apart and she is forced to question the clock to solve the mystery surrounding Adam, Cara must not lose faith or it could have grave consequences for her and her family. From the producers of THE KING and the writer of IDENTITY, SHELTER is a similarly tense, unpredictable and terrifying supernatural thriller.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Why this horror thriller didn’t make it to cinemas here is beyond us, considering the other genre fare that’s been dumped for theatrical release. Boasting an A-list cast of Julianne Moore and Johnathan Rhys Meyers, this latest from two Swedish directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein (whose next film is the fourth Underworld movie) is a spine-chilling tale that deserves much better than the direct-to-video treatment that it is getting. But well, looking on the bright side, at least you’ll be less afraid to admit that you’re scared.

‘Shelter’ comes from the writer of 2003’s thriller ‘Identity’, and sure enough, there are similarities that you can spot between the two movies. Again in this latest, Michael Cooney places a person suffering from multiple personality disorder at the hands of a psychologist, with the former’s personas suspected of being responsible for a string of related crimes. But whereas ‘Identity’ unfolded from the perspective of the killer, ‘Shelter’ is told from that of the psychologist, which of course takes away the gimmick that arguably made ‘Identity’ so successful.

Nonetheless, Cooney makes up for it with a couple of suspenseful twists and turns, and the result is a film that remains gripping from start to finish. The key again lies in the multiple personalities within psychologist Cara Harding’s latest patient, Adam Saber, referred to her by her father (Jeffrey DeMunn). Adam’s had at least two other personalities- the wheelchair-bound David and the violent foul-mouthed Wes- but things get interesting when Cara realises that these people are indeed real people who have been murdered in the past.

The least you know about the rest of the story the better, for Cooney pretty much turns the psychological thriller at hand on its head by turning it into something supernatural and eerily creepy indeed. Faith and God feature quite prominently in the second half of the movie, so if you’re going to be put off by any religious references, you probably won’t enjoy it as much. Otherwise, let’s just say the horror here taps into something fundamental, and most reminiscent of that in ‘Insidious’.

Working off Cooney’s twisty script, Mårlind and Stein do a commendable job building up the tension in the story. Playing their cards closely, they reveal enough to get you intrigued but know how to keep the surprises for when they do matter. Though it does take some time for the movie to warm up, Mårlind and Stein never lose grip of the pacing. Just as laudable is their firm eschewing of boo-scares, instead relying on good-ol atmosphere to unnerve their audience.
The material is probably the reason why both Moore and Meyers are part of the cast. Moore is excellent as ever, and even though this is not even close to the Academy-Award winning material she is used to playing, she is enthralling both as the detective-equivalent uncovering the mystery and as the mother who finds her whole family increasingly at risk of the malevolence. The standout here however is Meyers, who switches effortlessly between the various characters, and never misses a beat. It won’t win any Oscars, but this is probably one of his most challenging roles and Meyers delivers brilliantly.

With a great cast, solid writing from Cooney and confident direction from Mårlind and Stein, ‘Shelter’ easily stands out from the direct-to-video fare that usually should just go direct-to-trash. Instead, those who are looking for a good horror thriller to get your adrenaline going should check out this hidden gem that combines the psychological thriller ( a la ‘Identity’) with the supernatural horror genre for a uniquely terrifying time. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Audio is surprisingly soft, and you have to crank up the volume to hear the dialogue. The Dolby Digital 5.1 surround kicks in appropriately for added thrills. Visuals are clear and sharp, and the contrast is good given that most of the scenes happen in dimly lit surroundings.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Gabriel Chong