Just a few decades ago, a man like Curtis, the protagonist of
Take Shelter, might have been deemed a modern prophet, beloved of God, or an agent of the Devil. However, in today's modern world, where every other television channel has it's own self-proclaimed prophet, the line between prophet, liar, and just plain crazy has become less clear.
Curtis is an average blue-collar worker. He drills test holes into the ground for a small contracting firm in rural America. His family is typical in how atypical it is. He has a charming young daughter, loyal dog, and an overwhelmingly motherly wife. Nothing is stronger than the love each member of the family feels for each other.
This is a love born out of adversity, particularly in the struggle felt in dealing with Curtis's daughter's deafness. The world is a dangerous place for his daughter and Curtis is on the verge of getting her the help she needs. His job provides him a strong health insurance plan that can provide his daughter with a cochlear implant that would change her life.
However, trouble is literally on the horizon for Curtis when he begins to have visions of a coming storm that is purely apocalyptic in nature. Tornadoes swirl in the distance, coming closer by the second, and motor oil rains from the sky.
The central question of
Take Shelter, by director Jeff Nichols (
Thumbsucker), is of Curtis's sanity. Is Curtis losing his mind or is he a prophet for a coming storm, the likes of which rural Ohio has never seen before?
