“Shelter”

“Shelter” is one of those Jason Statham movies that’s perfectly fine, but definitely not among one of his strongest. He’s as reliable as ever playing a reclusive, haunted tough guy, but the movie itself just drifts along without ever kicking into a higher gear.

Set on a remote Scottish island, the film follows an isolated loner (Statham) who rescues a young girl (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) during a brutal storm. Their bond grows as outside forces close in, pushing him to confront a violent past while trying to protect her. It sounds familiar because it is: grizzled protector, mysterious past, shadowy government conspiracy, and a rinse and repeat plot that you’ve seen dozens of times before.

To the film’s credit, Statham and Breathnach have a genuinely solid chemistry which keeps things watchable. Their quiet moments together are clearly meant to add emotional weight, but the problem is there are too many of them. The storytelling is drawn out, packed with contemplative pauses and slow burn reveals that don’t really add much to either the pace or the weight of the story. The movie feels far longer than it needs to be, especially considering how thin the plot actually is.

This also isn’t a straight-up action flick. It’s more of an action drama with a serious streak, and that may surprise (or disappoint) fans looking for nonstop mayhem. The violence is surprisingly tame for an R-rated movie, and the action never reaches the maximum fun level. There’s just not enough suspense, escalation, or narrative juice to make the drama-heavy approach work.

By the time conspiracies involving hidden identities and high level government figures come into play, it all feels a little half baked.

“Shelter” is a dime a dozen story elevated slightly by its performances, but it lacks the excitement and tension needed to make it stand out. If you’re a Statham fan, you’ll get through it just fine. If you’re hoping for something memorable, this one will let you down.

By: Louisa Moore