Shelter [2010]

Banking on the obscure subject and sort of an X-Files vibe, Shelter tries to create that weird psychological-thriller atmosphere with a large religious influence. And when I say religious I mean it in a ritualistic, almost voodoo/pagan sense, with a dogmatic christian thing of being a believer or not as a counterpart. The choice of the writer that the lead role is a psychologist who does not believe in a multiple personality disorder (one of the favorites in Hollywood) somehow is supposed to give credibility to these religious claims and to question things from a rather scientific side (much like The Rite). Many are saying that this is an American version of The Ring, but I would not go that far in comparison. Yes, there is an almost intangible similarity between them, but still The Ring (both versions) is a much more complete film than this. Overall, movies with a similar religious twist (Fallen, Identity…) stood the test of time, so this might be a good gimmick to incorporate in a script.

Cara Harding is a psychiatrist, who’s intrigued by a multiple personality disorder, its relationship and USA in law. Denying that it exists, she’s trying to figure out what is happening then with persons supposedly suffering from this illness and what’s the root of the problem. As Joseph Kinkirk, a convicted murderer is sent to be executed, she is on a race with time to determine the cause of his behavior. By closely examining the personalities that surface she will soon discover that all of them have something in common. Her father, also a psychiatrist, will introduce her to David Bernburg, a patient of his that is apparently the real deal. Closing in on the source of this conditions she will soon find herself in grave danger as she learns the story of an old man who possesses unusual ability…

Directors: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein

Cast: Julianne Moore, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jeffrey DeMunn, Frances Conroy, Nathan Corddry

Fun Facts:  Budget $22 million; Box office $851,517

Rating:

IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179069/