43
Metascore
11 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 63Philadelphia InquirerTirdad DerakhshaniPhiladelphia InquirerTirdad DerakhshaniDespite its terrific performances and its great use of locations, Shelter doesn't have enough substance to hold your attention or linger in the mind for long.
- 63RogerEbert.comSusan WloszczynaRogerEbert.comSusan WloszczynaAn admirable attempt at presenting a difficult subject that suffers from an eventual pileup of melodramatic happenstances.
- 50Entertainment WeeklyChris NashawatyEntertainment WeeklyChris NashawatyIts intentions are noble. Its gaze is harshly realistic. But it’s also overly melodramatic. Bettany has the makings of better director than screenwriter.
- 50The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloThe A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloA compelling story might have succeeded in overcoming those cosmetic distractions, but Bettany only offers an overwrought romance.
- 50Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreAs it meanders from over-familiar set-pieces and cliches — Tahir drums on empty paint buckets for money, predators face them at every turn, a callous system trips them up, and when they break into that brownstone, naturally they play dress-up — Shelter loses its way.
- 40Village VoiceAbbey BenderVillage VoiceAbbey BenderShelter is a well-intentioned film that edges into misery porn.
- 30Los Angeles TimesKatie WalshLos Angeles TimesKatie WalshThe story on screen comes off as a naive interpretation of the homeless experience as imagined from a place of great privilege.
- 30The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenThe movie never bothers to show you life inside a shelter dormitory or tries to convey a broader vision of the city’s street culture. It is too busy showcasing its star Jennifer Connelly (Mr. Bettany’s wife) in degrading situations.
- 25Slant MagazineDrew HuntSlant MagazineDrew HuntThe characters' marginalized social standing is less indicative of a real-life epidemic and more akin to window dressing.