Safe Haven

Name: Safe Haven
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Released: February 14, 2013
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 34
Cast: David Lyons, Irene Ziegler, Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, Mimi Kirkland

2013

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 90 Ratings

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5.8

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5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 90 Ratings

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Safe Haven

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Movie Details & Credits

Relativity Media | Release Date: February 14, 2013 | PG-13

Starring: David Lyons, Irene Ziegler, Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, Mimi Kirkland, Noah Lomax, Robin Mullins

Summary: When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner withWhen a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family. But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.… Expand

Director: Lasse Hallstrom

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 115 min

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Critic Reviews

Connie Ogle

Feb 14, 2013

A sentimental romantic thriller. But it’s a well-made sentimental romantic thriller, and that makes all the difference. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Feb 13, 2013

The picture-postcard location of Southport, N.C., is the film's strong suit. Read full review

Rex Reed

Feb 20, 2013

This one blends the scented candles of a daytime soap with the tamer aspects of a middling thriller. Some folks will bring Kleenex. Others will need NoDoz. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Feb 15, 2013

The movie’s not all bad. There’s palpable chemistry between Duhamel and Hough. The former particularly seems well-suited to this sort of thing: He has just the right amount of grizzled charm to be one of those wounded hunks Sparks likes so much. Read full review

Rick Groen

Feb 13, 2013

It’s hard to argue with the title here – Safe Haven, indeed. This is all about safety in the Hollywood workplace. Why make a movie when making a Hallmark-card-with-dialogue is so much less risky? Read full review

Scott Tobias

Feb 13, 2013

The cutaways to this cop-on-the-edge plot are jarring and lacking in conviction, and when the whole tortured mess comes together in a twist-filled third act, Safe Haven becomes a full-blown calamity. Read full review

Peter Travers

Feb 14, 2013

I hate Safe Haven. It's a terrible thing to do to your Valentine. Read full review

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User Reviews

MDeffense

Feb 15, 2013

I am amazed how wrong most critics are at rating movies these days. Have they become so shallow and devoid of common sense? If you are a movie buff that likes a great family movie,great story, unusual setting, romance, drama, thriller with a surprise ending go see it, you will not regret it.

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

TheREALdeal1990

Mar 31, 2013

This movie was everything I wanted on a Friday night after a busy day at work. It was another one of Nicholas Sparks' masterpieces that kept me enthralled the whole way through. I was kept on my feet the whole way through and the whole, 'Jo' storyline and ending was really something I didn'tThis movie was everything I wanted on a Friday night after a busy day at work. It was another one of Nicholas Sparks' masterpieces that kept me enthralled the whole way through. I was kept on my feet the whole way through and the whole, 'Jo' storyline and ending was really something I didn't expect. Safe Haven is certainly a movie you should see. I give it a 10. Also, this website keeps changing my score from 10 to a 9.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

erinhealy1022

Feb 4, 2018

Safe Haven is a well rounded family movie. It is a very romantic movie but also brings real world struggles into the mix. It is definitely suspenseful as it is it constantly keeping you one your toes. Just when you think you know whats going to happen they surprise you. The ending trulySafe Haven is a well rounded family movie. It is a very romantic movie but also brings real world struggles into the mix. It is definitely suspenseful as it is it constantly keeping you one your toes. Just when you think you know whats going to happen they surprise you. The ending truly through me for a loop but I think it was a great way to tie it all together. I would highly recommend watching this movie with your family it is one for all audiences.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Bruce722

Jun 4, 2013

Safe Haven was exactly what I expected. It was a good movie with an interesting plot, sad parts, and solid acting. Unfortunately it wasn't as good as Nicholas Sparks' best film, The Notebook. Julianne Hough is beautiful and a triple threat but her acting, while capable, wasn't as strong asSafe Haven was exactly what I expected. It was a good movie with an interesting plot, sad parts, and solid acting. Unfortunately it wasn't as good as Nicholas Sparks' best film, The Notebook. Julianne Hough is beautiful and a triple threat but her acting, while capable, wasn't as strong as Rachel McAdams. Josh Duhamel did a solid job opposite of Hough and seems to have more potential as a breakout star. As for the film, the plot was interesting but it dragged quite a bit and had some areas that were just silly. Honestly, the best thing about this movie was the subtle twist thrown in at the end. It changed the meaning of some of the elements of the film and left you with a better feeling for the movie in general. Overall this was an above-average chick flick but it didn't have enough of the thriller element I was hoping for from some of the trailers. Nonetheless, I'm sure most women will enjoy it and some guys, if they are willing to watch it, will probably enjoy it as well.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cameronmorewood

Aug 3, 2013

Safe Haven is NOT about women's independence. It's about the opposite. I would've liked to see a female helmer work this storyline, even a male director who at least sort of understood women.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GreatMartin

Feb 15, 2013

It being Valentine’s Day weekend Hollywood, naturally, offers a romantic Nicholas Sparks film “Safe Haven” based on one of his many books.. In most films logic has to be left at the door but with this one also leave your brains there.

The opening scene shows Katie (Julianne Hough) runningIt being Valentine’s Day weekend Hollywood, naturally, offers a romantic Nicholas Sparks film “Safe Haven” based on one of his many books.. In most films logic has to be left at the door but with this one also leave your brains there.

The opening scene shows Katie (Julianne Hough) running from what could be a murder scene. In the fastest time ever in a film she cuts and dyes her hair, gets on a bus going to Atlanta, even though the police are looking for her, gets off in a small town and within minutes gets a job, rents a cabin, meets a guy Alex (Josh Duhamel) who lost his wife 2 years previously to cancer and is bringing up their two kids Lexi (Mimi Kirkland) who was too young to really remember her and Josh (Noah Lomax) who misses her and, by the way, Alex gives Katie a bike in the middle of the night since she doesn’t have any transportation, though she really doesn’t need it--remember this is a small town--and meets Jo, her neighbor who lives down the way. Whew! We haven’t even gotten into the main thrust of the story.

There isn’t a cliche that the director, Lasse Hallstrom, or the screenwriters, Dana Stevens and Gage Lansky, don’t love and feel they have to put up on the screen. We haven’t even mentioned fireworks filling the sky, children in jeopardy, homes on fire, a policeman who misuses his power, canoe rides, lovers getting caught in the rain not to forget the very unbelievable ending though the lovers and kids will live happily ever after as this is a Hollywood/ Nicholas Sparks movie. There is a thriller aspect added to the love story but adds nothing to the film.

Josh Duhamel goes through the 5 o’clock shadow stage here and there while Julianne Hough looks better as a blonde than a brunette but with either color there is very little chemistry between the leads. Mimi Kirkland and Noah Lomax do a good job while most of the supporting cast blend into the wood.

While you can’t say Hallstrom does a bad job there are one too many poorly edited scenes and as a director he really doesn’t bring anything special to the film.

The star of the movie is really the small town of Southport, North Carolina, which is movie perfect.

Though “Safe Haven” is being touted as a romantic film the best romantic film available on the big screen today is “Amour” that shows what love really is all about.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Thegodfatherson

Mar 8, 2013

It's doing what a romantic movie is suppose to do but it leaves you hanging with its emotional gaze at love. Safe Haven is whatever a romantic movie fan loves but I think it will disappoint others.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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