Tonight's Movie: Shelter (2026)

This afternoon I went to see the latest Jason Statham movie, SHELTER (2026), at my local Cinemark theater.

The movie opened last Friday. I'm a definite Statham fan, and I was immediately intrigued by trailer, as well as a positive review in The Hollywood Reporter.

Statham movies tend to follow definite themes -- this one, with a child in danger, isn't too dissimilar from Statham's SAFE (2012) years ago -- but time and again the actor gives his audiences what we want, and SHELTER is extremely well done.

Statham plays taciturn Michael Mason, who lives on a remote island in the Outer Scottish Hebrides. His only companion is his faithful dog.

Each week a boat arrives with supplies, rowed to the island by young Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach, HAMNET) from her uncle's boat.

Jessie attempts to befriend the forbidding man but he warns her away. He passes the time talking to his dog, playing chess with himself, and drinking a little too often.

Then one week a storm capsizes both Jessie and her uncle's boats; her uncle drowns, but Mason saves Jessie and nurses her injured foot.

A trip by Mason to the mainland for supplies to treat Jessie's injury goes amiss when M16 spots his image on a camera. Mason's past is about to come back to haunt him in a big way, resulting in him fleeing the island with Jessie, with assassins on their heels.

I thoroughly enjoyed this 107-minute film and will happily see it again in the future.

The story is ideal for Statham and his persona, and he's well matched with the spunky young Breathnach as Jessie.

I loved a scene early on when he discovers the frightened girl has armed herself with his knife and, rather than be annoyed or insulted, he appreciates her gumption and tutors her in how to properly use it as a defensive weapon. This builds trust, rather than the knife coming between them.

I also appreciated that, unlike some films of this type, Jessie never does anything stupid to exasperate Mason and cause him trouble. When he tells her to hide or take cover, which needless to say happens multiple times in the film, she does it. It was refreshingly non-manipulative in that regard. She also finds ways to help him in a couple situations.

My husband suggested a theory about their relationship which, after contemplating it, I think is correct, but I'm not going to share it at this point to prevent spoilers.

Harriet Walter (1995's SENSE AND SENSIBILITY) has what amounts to a cameo as the prime minister; she's effective but her role is all too short.

Bill Nighy (ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, THEIR FINEST), on the other hand, has considerable screen time as the former head of M16 who has created a class of rogue agents. He's extremely creepy in the role as he attempts to take out both Mason and Jessie, while also battling wits with the new M16 chief (Naomi Ackie) who is quickly on to his bad intentions.

There are a number of good action sequences, including one featuring Mason's SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON style island defenses. The movie is well balanced between Statham displaying his talents as a one-man killing machine and quieter, more emotional moments as his relationship with Jessie deepens.

The movie was directed by Ric Roman Waugh and filmed by Martin Ahlgren. The gray-blue skies on Mason's island and the contrasting bright lights of London combine to give the film nice touches of atmosphere.

Parental Advisory: This film is rated R. It is violent, but other than a couple brief scenes, as well a disturbing shot of a drowned man, it's not particularly graphic. Language isn't bad -- perhaps some of it was drowned out by gunfire! -- and there are no other common R-related issues. It's not for young children, but with a few seconds of judicious editing, this could easily have instead been rated PG-13.

Positive themes include loyalty and doing what's right in the face of innumerable obstacles.

I quite liked SHELTER and found it a perfect "popcorn movie." Recommended.

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