Add this one to your list of must see movies. “Take Shelter”, directed by Jeff Nichols and starring the great Michael Shannon (terrific in both “Revolutionary Road” and “The Runaways”) is a hauntingly beautiful picture about a family man who starts having visions of an impending apocalypse, disturbing visions that alienate him from his family and his co-workers. Dreams? Hallucinations? Schizophrenia? None of that matters to him. To prepare for the worst, he takes out a home improvement loan to fix the old storm shelter behind his house. More series of vivid nightmares (brilliant scenes by the way) only intensify his will and make him more determined to save his family from the coming storm. “You think I’m crazy?”, he tells his friends and family at some point. And that’s exactly what the film explores, with detail and terrific acting, especially Shannon, who gives a disturbing yet unforgettable performance. But to say more would be unthinkable, especially if you have yet to see this film, which is an emotional journey from start to finish. Jeff Nichols has crafted a unique piece of cinema, one that keeps its distance from Hollywood formula. His movie dares to take its time, and keeps coming at you, before it leaves you completely devastated. The performances couldn’t be more real; the wife is played by Jessica Chastain, who starred in a handful of movies last year (“The Debt,” “Tree of Life,” “The Help”). Here, she’s more than just a good wife; she’s also a loving woman who is more than willing to help her husband, but makes it clear there are lines that cannot be crossed. I’ll say no more, except that “Take Shelter” is a must see experience that is as breathtaking as it is devastating. I loved it.

Rating: 3.5/4