Take Shelter (2011)

Roles in Revolutionary Road and Boardwalk Empire have finally put Michael Shannon on the map, but you could argue he is mostly known for a role he hasn’t even finished playing yet- Zod in 2013’s Man of Steel. However, it’s his nuanced turn in American indie Take Shelter- one that is full of emotion and slowly building anxiety – that’s probably his best performance in recent years.
Blue-collar worker Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon) lives with his wife Samantha (Jessica Chastain again!) and their young daughter in the suburbs of Ohio. A series of strange goings-on in LaForche’s home town seem to signify impending doom. Curtis quickly starts to make plans to protect his family but his paranoia soon frightens his family.

Director (and writer) Jeff Nichols, working with Shannon for the second time after Shogun Stories (2007), has produced a compelling dive into a psyche spiralling into the abyss. From the start, we see Curtis staring at a faraway storm as dark oily rain falls from the sky. It’s the first of his vivid nightmares, which get more intense as his mind starts to unravel.

Nichols experiments with genre in hallucinatory moments that bring horror movies to mind. Obscured figures terrorise Curtis, trying to abduct his daughter Hannah and causing him to crash his car. In one haunting scene, Samantha is standing in front of Curtis, soaking wet and looking closely at a kitchen knife.

Take Shelter is the latest example of Shannon’s prowess as an actor; he’s surrounded by a great supporting cast which also includes Kathy Baker as his mother, Ray McKinnon as his older Brother and Shea Whigham as a co-worker and friend but none out-do Shannon. LaForche’s distress and confusion are palpable and whether his perceptions are correct or not, the cost is going to be high.
The only problem with Take Shelter (and it’s a very small problem) is the film is slightly too long. Nichols does a fantastic job in setting up LaForche’s situation, the small town in which he lives, the emotional and financial pressures that he and Samantha face dealing with their daughter’s condition and his devotion to his family. Nichols also keeps the audience as off balance regarding Curtis; is he insane or the sanest man on the planet? There is a point where Nichols could end the movie and retain that uncertainty. Instead, he opts for something more explicit which manages to keep the film’s power.

Shannon and Chastain wrench up their characters’ emotions and deliver performances that are worthy of Oscar nominations. Shannon’s explosion of rage during a town get-together is typical of some of his recent turns, but in truth his portrayal of Curtis is delicately layered with pain brewing beneath the surface.

Take Shelter is a terrific movie with Shannon’s performance staying with you long after you’ve left the cinema.