Matthew Briody braves the elements with his review of Shelter.
A solitary man’s past is interwoven with a troubled young woman's present in Ric Roman Waugh’s Shelter. Living in a lighthouse on a remote Scottish island, Michael Mason (Jason Statham) rescues Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) from a savage storm. After bringing her to his home to recover, Mason and Jessie find themselves on a collision course with some truly dangerous enemies. Caught in the crosshairs of MI6 and trained operatives, Mason must face his past to protect Jessie.
Director Ric Roman Waugh is no stranger to delivering impressive action on screen. Working with Gerard Butler over a number of films, Waugh released Angel Has Fallen, Kandahar and Greenland in the last few years alone. Waugh even directed Greenland 2: Migration, which came out this year alongside Shelter. While these films concern different characters facing a multitude of difficulties, Waugh’s focus remains the same. Whether it’s a secret service agent who’s been framed, a CIA operative on the run or a father desperate to save his family, Waugh certainly enjoys his common themes. In each film, one individual faces an insurmountable threat head on.
In this film, Mason has history with Manafort (Bill Nighy), a high-ranking government official who has a personal vendetta against him. Thankfully, Mason has one loyal MI6 agent on his side. Roberta (Naomi Ackie) is Manafort’s protégé, doggedly pursuing Mason while also attempting to unravel a dark conspiracy.
While the film is set in Scotland, the majority of Shelter was shot in Ireland. Primarily filmed in Wicklow, Waugh shot around Enniskerry in a number of scenic spots. One of the most significant visuals was Travelahawk Beach, doubling as the remote Scottish island Mason inhabits. For this, the crew purpose-built the lighthouse on the upper cliff and erected the Shelter set along the beach. Sometimes known as the “Hollywood of Europe," Wicklow has been used for many big-budget films and television series in the past few decades. From Wednesday and going back to historical epic Braveheart, Wicklow remains an ideal locale for filmmakers seeking a stunning location to capture movie magic.
It is not just the Irish landscape that impresses on screen. Shelter is powered by a wealth of local talent, from production crew, special effects, make-up and sound to the art department, with Dublin producer Macdara Kelleher listed as EP. While in front of the screen, Bodhi Rae Breathnach is a talented Irish actress who is quickly making a name in the industry with her role in Hamnet, her debut. This autumn she will appear in a brand new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility as Margaret Dashwood. Breathnach will be seen in Robert Eggers' Werwulf this Christmas.
When it comes to the visuals, Waugh captures the quiet moments of the film with plenty of static shots, giving his characters the space to reflect. As the action intensifies, so too does the camera’s movement. Kinetic camera work complements impressive action scenes, capturing Mason as he takes down multiple enemies with satisfying aplomb.
Ward Parry penned the script for Shelter. This is Parry’s second feature screenplay after writing 2015’s The Shattering. Parry’s first effort was a horror/thriller where a group of friends fight for their lives in a deserted cabin while being attacked by paramilitary commandos and deadly creatures. His sophomore script hits all the right action-thriller beats, balancing sharp character-building dialogue with momentum, never letting exposition slow the pace. While Shelter sticks to a familiar action formula, it uses that structure to its advantage.
The performances bring a surprising depth. In the lead role of Michael Mason, Jason Statham plays to type as the gruff, world-weary hero. Notably, he performed many of his own high-risk stunts, including sequences shot on jagged mountain cliffs. As co-lead, Bodhi Rae Breathnach brings emotional depth to Jessie, grounding the film. At first self-assured and warm, Jessie becomes a vital presence in Mason’s life. As the story unfolds, Breathnach subtly reveals her character’s vulnerabilities and tragic past, capturing both Jessie’s quiet anguish and the profound impact she has on Mason. As a counter, Bill Nighy is a decent villain with a dependable turn as Manafort, an ordinary evil without any over-the-top moustache twirling. While Naomi Ackie’s Roberta is a truth seeker, an uncorrupted agent on the hunt, Roberta drives the tension through her pursuit.
With this strong cast, familiar Irish backdrop and absorbing action, Shelter is a riveting thriller that can more than weather any storm.
Shelter is in cinemas now.