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Shelter
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 11 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 19 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Drama | Romance
Written by: Jonah Markowitz
Directed by: Jonah Markowitz
Release Date:
Theatrical: March 21, 2008
Running Time: 97 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for language, some sexual content and brief drug use
Starring Trevor Wright, Brad Rowe, and Tina Holmes
Forced to give up his dreams of art school, Zach spends his days working a dead-end job and helping his needy sister care for her son. In his free time he surfs, draws, and hangs out with his best friend, Gabe, who lives on the wealthy side of town. When Gabe's older brother Shaun returns home, he is drawn to Zach's selflessness and talent. Zach falls in love with Shaun while struggling to reconcile his own desires with the needs of his family. (Regent Releasing)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
San Francisco Chronicle David Wiegand
Features a superb performance in the lead role, a strong supporting cast, very good cinematography and, most of all, emotional authenticity.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Maitland McDonagh
Markowitz 's low key coming of age/coming out story isn't particularly original, but features subtle performances and a vivid sense of place.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Albert Williams
What might have been a routine coming-out story is enriched by Wright's accomplished and honest performance, Markowitz's straightforward dialogue, and Joseph White's cinematography of the majestic surf and melancholy sunsets off Malibu.
Read Full Review >Variety Dennis Harvey
A pleasant romantic drama that works best when focused on the romance -- or on the waves, since the principal characters spend a lot of time surfing.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Chuck Wilson
Wright is a find, while Rowe may surprise those who dismissed him as a Brad Pitt look-alike when he first came to attention in "Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss." Here, Rowe displays new authority and confidence, as if lately he’s been looking in the mirror and seeing himself, rather than that other, more famous blond.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman
Actors Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe are good enough to turn a formulaic coming-out tale into a sweet romance.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Wesley Morris
Shelter is a gay movie like other American gay movies. Boy meets boy. Boy comes out. Boys fight opposition. Opposition caves. If there's life beyond the closet, too few movies know it exists.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Ed Gonzalez
As far as coming-out dramas go, Shelter is a puppy dog, well-acted but rife with cliché received wisdom and at least one ingeniously arbitrary bit of mid-scene dialogue: "That's why you never tell a woman how to cook a chicken."
Read Full Review >Seattle Post-Intelligencer Bill White
The script sounds like literal diary transcripts, the camerawork tests the limits of eyestrain, and the soundtrack bleats with mediocre pop songs by unknowns.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 19 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
David K gave it a9:
This is an awesomely written and directed coming of age drama about a talented young man from San Pedro, California. The main characters in this film are well developed and very down-to-earth. It’s hard for me to imagine that this entire movie was able to be filmed on location in only three weeks.
Sam T gave it a10:
The movie is the best in the world. The story plot cannot be compared to anything. The acting was great and the music also played a very important role into making this film highly valuable.
Trevor K. gave it a10:
This was such an inspiring, well made movie. It was the first movie to make me cry in a long time. (not that it was sad, it was inspiring).
Jeffrey A gave it an8:
The performers were able to make this film trascend its material. Completely genuine characters reflecting completely genuine reactions to circumstances.
Javi Z gave it a9:
All is good in this movie: actors, cinematography, music, story, and it really moves inside. At last, a gay-story close to reality.
Kwen gave it a10:
So Adorable. I absolutely loved this film. My friends nagged me until I saw it, and I didn't regret it at all. Totally worth two or three viewings.
Paul K. gave it a7:
This is more like a 6.5, but because I was completely taken with Shaun, Brad Rowe's character (even though the premise of his relationship with Zach is fairly implausible) I'm giving this a green number. I had never heard of Brad Rowe before, but his performance was so strong and believable, I made a specific point to look him up on IMDB. The basic story is good(lower class surfer/artist falls for slightly older upper class surfer), but the story line falls in and out of "gay/coming out" cliches too easily and should have gone through a few more revisions. What was the point of Zach having a father? The story would have been more believable, especially with the situation with his sister at the end, if both his parents were MIA. Trevor Wright (Zach) does a good job with what he's given, but at times the dialogue, plot situations and the acting should have been more solid(especially from the supporting cast). Still, with all it's flaws I did enjoy Shelter. The ending (while wrapped up like a present) does touch upon the idea of two gay men being able to take care of a child; which gives Shelter some unexpected relevancy.
