While there is no shortage of Stephen King books and adaptations, the iconic author frequently reviews books, movies, and shows that he did not write or is attached to in any way on social media, with his platform bringing further recognition to these various projects. Such previous reviews include Netflix’s Stranger Things, FX’s Alien: Earth, Netflix’s Kathryn Bigelow-directed movie A House of Dynamite, and the MGM+ horror series From.
On his Bluesky account, King has now shared a positive review for Shelter, which was released in theaters on January 30 and is now available for purchase or rental on select platforms. Beyond praising the action, King shares how he appreciates the movie’s politics, writing that “The new Jason Statham movie is terrific. The perfect antidote to Trump’s foolishness.”
The film sees Statham playing Michael Mason, a former government assassin who abandons his reclusive life to protect Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), a young, grieving girl who needs his help after the loss of her mother, a vicious storm, and as they are hunted by deadly individuals from Mason’s past. The cast of characters also includes Mason’s former handler Manafort (Bill Nighy), Manafort’s assistant Roberta (Naomi Ackie), Mason’s friend Arthur (Daniel Mays), and Harriet Walter as the British prime minister.
In ScreenRant‘s Shelter review, Gregory Nussen notes that the movie does have some promising political commentary with “the suggestion of the film’s politics vis a vis state surveillance” and “a larger point about how the use of artificial intelligence in surveillance is automatically faulty,” but “that promise is discarded pretty quickly.” Instead, Nussen argues that the film is at its best as “an electric actioner, so long as it is sticking to the action.” Other critics have similar sentiments in their reviews, leading to a 64% score on Rotten Tomatoes, although the audience score is more favorable at 87%.
Compared to many of Jason Statham’s other action movies that have been box office hits, Shelter underperformed, as it grossed $42 million worldwide against a $50 million budget. Nevertheless, as indicated by King’s glowing review and the Rotten Tomatoes audience score, there are many who enjoyed the new film, both for its politics and for being a good fit for Statham as an action star. In addition to reviewing other books, movies, and shows, Stephen King also frequently uses his social media accounts to speak out against U.S. President Donald Trump, making it unsurprising that he found a relevant connection in his response to Shelter.
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- Birthdate
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September 21, 1947
- Birthplace
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Portland, Maine, USA
- Height
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6 feet 4 inches
- Notable Projects
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The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining, It, The Stand, Misery, The Dark Tower, Mr. Mercedes, Carrie
- Professions
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Author, Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Actor
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
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