Construction worker Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon) lives in a small Ohio town with his wife, Samantha (Jessica Chastain), and their six-year-old, hearing impaired daughter (Tova Stewart).  When Curtis begins having nightmares and hallucinations of a coming apocalyptic storm, he not only builds an expensive storm shelter in his back yard, much to the concern of his family, friends and employer, who eventually fires him, but he also begins to doubt his own sanity, since he mother had fallen victim to schizophrenia years before.

CRITIQUE

Is Curtis LaForche having a futuristic vision, or is he in the early stages of schizophrenia?

That’s the question that we keep asking ourselves as we watch Take Shelter, writer-director Jeff Nichols’ tense psychological thriller that features an astounding performance by Michael Shannon as Curtis, as well as stellar dramatic turns by the rest of the fine cast.

Nichols endows his story with a deliberate pace that allows viewers to take the journey with Curtis as, on the one hand, he succumbs to his unnerving “visions” by building the expanded storm shelter while, on the other, exploring the looming possibility that he is, indeed, losing his sanity like his mother (Kathy Baker) did when she was his age.

At times, the slow pacing works against the film, which would probably have been more effective than it is already, were it trimmed by twenty minutes. 

I don’t care how “great” an individual scene or moment might be.  If the information it conveys is redundant and it slows the overall tempo of the film, then it should go.  That’s why “God” created “Deleted Scenes” sections on DVDs.

Nevertheless, Take Shelter is a fine film with an ending that will definitely have viewers pondering long after the picture has ended.

THE VIDEO

The widescreen picture is crisp, sharp with no flaws.

THE AUDIO

The Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound is has no problems whatsoever.

THE EXTRAS

The DVD contains informative and interesting audio commentary by writer/director Jeff Nichols and star Michael Shannon.

There are also two deleted scenes, a 10-minute “Behind the Scenes” featurette and a 20-minute Q&A with Shannon and co-star Shea Whigham.

FINAL THOUGHT

Though perhaps twenty minutes too long, Take Shelter is a powerful drama with superb performances, particularly from Michael Shannon, who should gave been Oscar-nominated for his role.