🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
- Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Supernatural
- Release year: 2010
- Runtime (length): 1h 52min
- IMDb rating: 6.0/10 (55k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 12%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A psychiatrist who hates multiple personalities meets a guy who’s basically a walking dead person collection, and then hillbilly voodoo happens, all because someone didn’t believe hard enough.
🍿 Shelter: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction to Dr. Cara Harding and David Bernburg
Dr. Cara Harding, a forensic psychiatrist and skeptical atheist, is introduced to a patient named David Bernburg by her father, also a psychiatrist. David appears to suffer from multiple personality disorder. He displays distinct personalities, each with unique physical and behavioral traits.

Unraveling the Mystery of Adam Saber and Other Personalities
Cara investigates David’s personalities, discovering that each one corresponds to a person who has died, often violently. One personality, Adam Saber, becomes particularly prominent, leading Cara to question the nature of David’s condition. The deeper Cara delves, the more she realizes that something supernatural is at play, rather than a simple case of MPD.

The Supernatural Twist and a Race Against Time
Cara learns that Adam is, in fact, Reverend Christian Moore, a faith healer from the late 19th century who was punished for his hypocrisy by the mountain people. To survive, Moore steals the souls of the faithless. Cara realizes that her daughter, Sammy, is now targeted by Moore, and she must find a way to stop him before he claims Sammy’s soul.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Cara Harding (Julianne Moore): A forensic psychiatrist whose scientific beliefs are challenged when she encounters a patient with seemingly impossible multiple personalities.
- David/Adam/Christian Moore (Jonathan Rhys Meyers): A patient with multiple personalities who is revealed to be a faith healer stealing the souls of the faithless to survive.
- Dr. Harding (Jeffrey DeMunn): Cara’s father and a psychiatrist who introduces her to the mysterious patient, David.
- Sammy (Brooklynn Proulx): Cara’s young daughter who becomes a target of the entity inhabiting David’s body.
- Mrs. Bernburg (Frances Conroy): The mother of David Bernburg, one of the personalities inhabited by Christian Moore.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Cara Harding: “Just because you’re older, doesn’t mean you’re right. It could just mean that you’ve been wrong for longer.” – Cara says this line, expressing her skeptical and scientifically-minded perspective.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $22,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $1,459,915
- Worldwide Gross: $3,205,167
💥 Shelter Reviews
Personal Review
I wanted to like this movie so badly because of Julianne Moore, and the premise was interesting. But honestly, it just got weirder and weirder. The beginning had me hooked with the multiple personalities mystery. Then the voodoo stuff came in and it was like, what is even happening anymore? It just didn’t feel cohesive and left me confused. I love a good supernatural thriller, but this one missed the mark. The scene with the old film reel explaining everything was just too much.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of psychological thrillers”
- “Viewers interested in movies about multiple personality disorder”
- “People who enjoy supernatural horror with a focus on plot and suspense”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Violence”
- “Disturbing images”
- “Supernatural themes”
- “Religious elements”
- “Thematic elements involving death and murder”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “Julianne Moore does her best, but ‘Shelter’ quickly descends into religious mumbo-jumbo, undermining the potentially creepy premise with illogical plot twists and a reliance on jump scares.
- IMDB: “Starts strong as a psychological thriller, but devolves into a messy supernatural horror. Moore and Rhys Meyers deliver solid performances, but the plot holes and reliance on clichés ultimately disappoint.
- Common Sense Media: “Decent acting but a poorly executed story lead to a confusing hodgepodge of a film. Despite Moore’s best efforts, the movie fails to deliver any real scares.
Audience Reactions
Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ performance was captivating and showcased his range as an actor.: Viewers praised the initial psychological thriller aspects but felt let down by the supernatural turn.
Julianne Moore’s acting was a highlight, but couldn’t save the convoluted plot.: Many felt the religious undertones were heavy-handed and detracted from the suspense.
Overall Consensus: Starts with a promising psychological thriller premise, but devolves into a confusing and illogical supernatural mess. Strong performances from Moore and Rhys Meyers are overshadowed by plot holes and an unsatisfying resolution.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film was initially titled ‘6 Souls’ but was later released as ‘Shelter’ in some regions.”
- “Julianne Moore’s character, Dr. Cara Harding, is a forensic psychiatrist, a profession that requires specialized training in both psychiatry and the law.”
- “The directors, Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, are a Swedish directing duo who have also worked on other thrillers and horror films.”
🖥️ How to Watch Shelter?
As of [Current Date], Shelter (also known as 6 Souls) is available for purchase or rental on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Check your preferred streaming service for availability, as offerings may vary by region. You may also find it available for rent or purchase through digital retailers like Google Play Movies or Vudu.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Shelter, you might like these similar films:
- Fallen (1998): Both films explore the concept of a malevolent entity transferring between bodies and committing violent acts.
- Identity (2003): Features a psychological thriller plot centered around multiple personalities and a mysterious, dangerous situation.
- The Skeleton Key (2005): Deals with supernatural horror, voodoo, and the uncovering of a dark, mysterious past in a southern setting.
🛒 Shelter Related Products
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- Outlast: Trinity – Playstation 4: Outlast: Trinity offers psychological horror experiences, delving into dark, suspenseful narratives with terrifying enemies and shocking revelations, pushing players’ sanity to its limits. Get ready for intense survival horror with multiple personalities, gripping storytelling, and immersive gameplay.
- Supernatural: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]: Relive every thrilling moment with Supernatural: The Complete Series on Blu-ray! This epic collection includes all 15 seasons, offering hours of monster-hunting, demon-fighting, and supernatural drama. A must-have for fans of the Winchester brothers and their battle against the forces of darkness.
- Identity [Blu-ray]: Experience the twists and turns of Identity, a psychological thriller, on Blu-ray. This high-definition release enhances the suspenseful atmosphere and features exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Perfect for fans of mind-bending plots and unexpected revelations.
🎧 Soundtrack
Shelter features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Main Theme – Shelter” – performed by Marcelo Zarvos
- “Appalachian Mystery” – performed by Marcelo Zarvos
- “Whispers of the Dead” – performed by Sound Ideas
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
‘Shelter’ is a psychological thriller with supernatural elements, focusing on a forensic psychiatrist who encounters a patient with multiple personalities, each corresponding to a murder victim. She uncovers a supernatural plot involving a soul-stealing entity and must protect her family.
‘Shelter’ blends psychological suspense with horror elements to create an unnerving atmosphere. While it doesn’t rely heavily on jump scares, its themes of identity theft, loss of faith, and supernatural curses can be disturbing. Viewer reviews indicate varied levels of fear experienced.
The ending of ‘Shelter’ is ambiguous, suggesting that the cycle of soul-stealing may continue through Cara’s daughter, Sammy. It implies that the loss of faith makes individuals vulnerable to supernatural forces, and the curse might be perpetuated across generations.
🔥 Bonus Content
say when | shaun/zach
Obsessed with Shaun and Zach’s love story? This fan-made music video perfectly captures their relationship with ‘Say When’ by The Fray. Seriously, the feels are REAL – you HAVE to see this!
Zach & Shaun | Shelter
Need a dose of pure romance? This fan tribute to Zach and Shaun’s relationship in ‘Shelter’ is everything! The music is perfect, and it’s just so heartwarming. Get ready to swoon!
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