Take Shelter

The human mind is a fragile thing. Cinema has explored this uncharted terrain many times. This is the latest.

Dreams are also a region of the human mind that has been explored a lot. Dreams are one of those things that don't always make sense and so need interpretation. Cutis's dreams in this film are fairly obvious and point to some cataclysmic natural disaster. However, because they are dreams he has trouble convincing anyone else that something is coming. Jeff Nichols has crafted an excellent psychological thriller where we witness a man slowly loose his mind. The dream sequences are really well integrated into the film as you never know if they are real or not. They are also very intense too so that you come to feel the tension that Curtis does. What is interesting is that Curtis does not go about screaming about the impending Armageddon. Instead he just goes about building a shelter and getting his family really. They soon realise his unusual behavior and ask for an explanation. The ordinariness of the films setting also means that it could happen anywhere and to anyone. The characters feels real and you come to care for them.

Michael Shannon has been giving brilliant performances in films for a few years now. Mostly in the back ground but here he takes centre stage and you can't take your eyes off him. He has one scene towards the end which showcases his characters sanity nicely and Michael is awesome. I'm sure he will get a lot more notice after 'Man Of Steel' next year. Jessica Chastain just keeps popping up in films all this year. Here she plays the dutiful wife once again. Supporting her husband and his fragile mental state.

A brilliant psychological thriller about how fragile the human mind can be. Dreams can be interpreted in many ways but it you just need someone to believe you.