Michael Shannon, in the second of his collaborations with writer-director Jeff Nichols, blew critics away with his performance as a young father and husband who starts to experience apocalyptic visions. Fearing the impending arrival of a cataclysmic storm, he begins to build a bunker to protect his family whilst his loved ones look on and fear for his mental health. The story is a push-and-pull of conviction and doubt - is he going crazy, or is the end of the world actually nigh? Shannon sells the performance not only through his fervent, manic reactions to the visions, but also the crippling self-doubt Curtis experiences as he wonders whether he is actually the one placing his family in jeopardy. There are great supporting turns from the likes of Jessica Chastain and the underrated Shea Whigham, with the real kicker being the morosely beautiful ending. You'll be turning it over and over in your mind afterward. Keep an ear out for the amazing song 'Shelter' by Jeff Nichols' brother Ben, which closes out the film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5U4TtYpKIc
Cinephile since 1993, aged 4, when he saw his very first film in the cinema - Jurassic Park - which is also evidence of damn fine parenting. World champion at Six Degrees of Separation. Lender of DVDs to cheap mates. Connoisseur of Marvel Comics and its Cinematic Universe.
