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 85 Ratings

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5.7

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5.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 85 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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Metascore

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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

lyraM

Jun 2, 2013

My new favorite, since A Walk To Remember and The notebook. I think it's even better than the notebook. Never thought der will be anything better than the two Until I've watched the SAFE HAVEN.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KellyC

Feb 23, 2013

I usually do not like romance movies, but this one provided a good mix between action and romance. I thought the story line was very good and kept me guessing the whole time. I do not understand why the ratings are so bad, if your not just looking for love, but for some action with it, II usually do not like romance movies, but this one provided a good mix between action and romance. I thought the story line was very good and kept me guessing the whole time. I do not understand why the ratings are so bad, if your not just looking for love, but for some action with it, I would definitely suggest this movie.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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

Proteus

Feb 20, 2013

The definition of haven is "a place of safety", so we have here a safe place of safety. This means that the girl is really really safe in the arms of her guy...which is good. But there are some tense moments before that is confirmed! Yes, all very predictable, but what exactly is wrong with that?

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

hoops2448

Apr 23, 2013

A Nicholas Sparks adaptation unlike most of the others in that it can be at least at times a powerful film with actual characters and you know, purpose. When Katie (Julianne Hough) flees her hometown and takes refuge from her past in Southport she meets single father Alex (Josh Duhamel) andA Nicholas Sparks adaptation unlike most of the others in that it can be at least at times a powerful film with actual characters and you know, purpose. When Katie (Julianne Hough) flees her hometown and takes refuge from her past in Southport she meets single father Alex (Josh Duhamel) and begins a passionate relationship while her past begins to catch up to her in the form of detective Tierney (David Lyons). Safe Haven is a decent love story that doesn't feel like the usual Nicholas Sparks drivel save for a final twist that almost derails the whole film. The film counts on Hough and she delivers a touching but hardened performance as a woman who has been through a brutal ordeal yet survived. Her isolation, while short lived is the main problem with the film thriving through character interaction, the time she spends alone drags and because of her secrets she prefers seclusion. Duhamel seems unsure in the role but has good chemistry with Hough so the overall feel is still there. The side characters are paper thin and take up valuable minutes of the film extending a picture with very little story. That's not to say its a simple film, in fact it tries to avoid being generic and formulaic although it only really avoids the latter. The film lacks anything special to make it unique so it comes across as ordinary. The director, having adapted Sparks' Dear John knows how to handle the melodrama rife in Sparks' books and in a way its what makes Safe Haven so light and easy to watch but it also means a film about trust, betrayal, death and fear is about as dark as an episode of the Tellytubbies. The film is so sweet at times its sickly and becomes nauseating. Overall the film is terrific in handling the characters and how they interact but it struggles and ultimately fails to surprise or impress upon the viewer any kind of originality.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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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