Shelter is a suspenseful and dramatic thriller that places the audience in the deplorable isolation of a deserted Scottish island. It is about the life of a former government assassin, Michael Mason who is living in seclusion after becoming rogue to his elite hit squad, the Black Kites. This silent life is disturbed by an act of saving a girl at the dangerous sea, which triggers a sequence of very dangerous events. With forces that are too unknown to stay out, Mason has to face not only the outside dangers but also his troubled past that has been following him all his life.
The movie is good at establishing the atmosphere of suspense and emptiness, and the desolate, windy scenery is an ideal reflection of what Mason is going through. The silent, pensive mood is separated by the explosions of violence and tension, which help to emphasize the struggle of Mason to stay alive physically and emotionally. The emotional dimension of this relationship is added when Mason and a young girl called Jessie, who has lost her mother, are brought together, which proves that Mason is not so strong, and it seems there is a way to attain redemption. The direction keeps the audience in suspense, as it is made up of the moments of deeper reflection and those of adrenaline-inducing action.
The most striking part was how the movie dealt with the theme of loneliness, guilt, and how redemption might be achieved. The dark past of Mason and the way he tries to protect himself against the world, has a strong effect of remorse and the desire to be a part of the world. Shelter is a powerful and somber thriller that remains memorable – showing how even the most jaded people may be in need of an escape and be given hope in the most unlikely places.
