Have we as audiences seen this type of movie? Yes! Is it still entertaining? The answer is, without a single doubt. Director Ric Roman Waugh and writer Ward Parry have created an action-thriller that is mostly compelling and fun, offering audiences an escape from the troubles of real life. Did I eat it all up? For the most part, I did. The assured direction of Waugh and the decent writing of Ward make Shelter a solid piece of action entertainment that is essentially a B-movie, but has an undeniable heart and a commitment to some realism that works.
Jason Statham stars as Mason. When the audience is introduced to the character, Mason remains somewhat comfortable as the sole resident, besides his dog, in a nonfunctional lighthouse, where he seems to be hiding from his past. Regularly, Mason receives food and supplies from a father and daughter who arrive to provide him with what he essentially needs. During one particular delivery, Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) and her father encounter a turbulent storm that nearly kills Jessie and definitely drowns Jessie’s father.
Faced with a difficult decision, Mason manages to rescue Jessie and takes her to his lighthouse home. However, an infection in Jessie’s leg forces Mason to leave his safe home and travel to a city in Scotland, where he attains the medical supplies she needs, but also exposes him to the covert agents he once worked for. What results is a search-and-retrieval mission from the government agency that initially drove him into hiding.
Though we have seen this so many times before, Shelter still works thanks to the writing, action direction, and the likability of its star, Jason Statham. The result is a fun actioner with well-executed stunts, fight choreography, and the action sequences most audiences expect from a Statham action vehicle.
The action is great, and the acting is adequate. The actors make a compelling case for their situations, and despite the plot and characters’ noticeable derivative nature, it still delivers an entertaining B-level action movie. Now, the movie does not necessarily beg to be viewed on a big screen, but it is a tad more fun in that setting. Could this film be enjoyed at home with popcorn made in one’s kitchen? Of course! Shelter is a damn fine movie that is totally enjoyable at home, or in a theater with a group of family or friends.