When I saw this movie’s poster, I didn't quickly know that the main character was Jason Statham. The beard made him unrecognisable until I looked closely and realised it was one of my favourite actors in action movies.
However, the title of the movie seem strange and unusual for Statham style. I initially thought it was a survival kind of movie which is not his usual style. So I decided to watch the trailer and immediately I streamed it to watch.
Watching the trailer is a good decision because two of my favorite actors are featured in this movie-Bill Nighy and Jason Statham. They are actors that I would hate to miss their films. One thing I've noticed is that Bill Nighy is always a worthy villain/antagonist. So putting these two actors together in a film is worth watching.
Shelter (2026) is an action thriller distributed by Black Bear Pictures, directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by Ward Parry. This movie starred Jason Statham, Bill Nighy, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays and Harriet Walter.
The storyline of this movie centers around Jason Statham as Michael Mason, a former government assassin living in isolation in a lighthouse on an island. However, Mason’s past didn't forget about him, regardless of the fact that he refused to connect with the outside world. He had found a new connection in his quiet world but his past came back to hunt him and threaten to take away his new life itself. Will Mason let his past win? Will he give up on his new found connection?
My Review And Rating.
Ric Roman Waugh did a fantastic job with this movie. His directorial style was simple, plain but unique and solid. He made use of their budget adequately that it wasn't over spent or under spent. He used it to develop and deliver an action thriller that start solemnly, pumps you with tension, makes you emotional, and make you smile proudly at the end.
I enjoyed the music/soundtrack aspect meticulously curated by David Buckley. The techno and instrumental tracks played a big role in the movie as they were used to depict the mood and tone. Some of the tracks gave the movie a solemn start while the other tracks enhanced the fight and car chase scenes.
The plot is good and well written in a unique way. The movie starts slow as Mason's past catches up with him. You would think he had a dirty past but further into the movie, it becomes clear that he was framed. This storytelling style creates better tension and suspense. You can't easily predict the movie.
The cast performance is excellent, especially Jason Statham’s acting. I particularly liked his role as both a guardian of a young girl and an assassin. He seamlessly eased between a loving guardian (despite his past) and a ruthless assassin.
The villain, Manafort (played by Bill Nighy) is introduced in a sneaky way, as though he is a protagonist. It turns out it wasn't so. Rather he was the enemy in disguise, hiding and troubling Mason, the protagonist (played by Jason Statham). Manafort’s henchmen proved to be worthy villains who brought out Statham’s strength amd gave him a run for his money. All the action scenes were simply fantastic and pumped my adrenaline.
Themes explored in this movie include politics, espionage involving UK intelligence, parental love, and loyalty.
The cinematography is outstanding and the editing well done. UK landscapes are beautifully captured and represented in this movie. They are pleasant to watch. Also, the camera focus is brilliant, giving us a 360 view of all the fight scenes. Particularly the clubhouse scene. I enjoyed that alot because despite the flashing lights of the club, the action sequences were very clear. No blurry scenes.
Rating this movie, I will give it 8.5 stars out of 10. Jason Statham movies are never disappointing and this one gave us insight into his emotional side as an actor. Its also entertaining, not gory and the action sequences are fascinating. I'd recommend this movie to all action thriller lovers.
All images above are from the movie screenshots
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