‘Take Shelter’: the 2011 psychological thriller climbing the Netflix charts
Netflix has clearly understood the August assignment, and the proof is its weekly Top 10 movies chart. Of course, a Netflix chart is nothing without its originals. Yet a blast from Hollywood’s past that has been making rounds of subscribers’ watchlists is Take Shelter, starring Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain.
During the week of July 27th to August 2nd, the 2011 psychological thriller debuted on the most popular movies chart internationally with 3.1million views, ranking sixth and becoming one of the top 10 trending titles in 23 countries.
Directed by Jeff Nichols, Take Shelter is a gritty psychological thriller about an Ohio family man, Curtis LaForche, struggling with nightmare-esque apocalyptic visions that blur the lines of reel and reality.
Frozen in fear over a presumed catastrophic storm and the emergence of the same schizophrenia that institutionalised his mother, Curtis obsessively tries to erect an expensive backyard storm shelter, exhausting his family’s savings and simultaneously straining his personal as well as professional standing.
While it obviously makes sense to be curious about why Take Shelter is rising through the ranks after over a decade and a half since its theatrical release, the answer is actually pretty straightforward: it was recently added to Netflix, quickly prompting high visibility on subscribers’ home screens.
Whenever a well-received, tense thriller lands on the streamer, Netflix visibility and algorithmic serendipity push its popularity, in turn, ensuring its appearance on the weekly Top 10 charts. The same thing happened to this blockbuster as well, which is widely acclaimed for its intense, slow-burning plot and ambiguously haunting ending.
The film’s conclusion has particularly sparked several divisive online discourses, resulting in gripping fan theories and discussions about what the climax actually meant. In one way or another, the post-viewing digital frenzy has also inspired more viewers to check it out for themselves.
What also undoubtedly contributes to the thriller’s renewed attention is the top-notch performances from Oscar nominee Shannon and Oscar winner Chastain. But beyond streaming algorithms and basic star power, Take Shelter’s continued cultural relevance and thematic treatment of unrelenting anxiety, financial insecurity, paranoia, and fear of societal or environmental collapse explain why the film continues to catch fire with streaming audiences.
Although there’s no underestimating the streaming power of rediscovery, the movie has an existing cinematic reputation that it retains despite the passage of time and influx of newer releases. So, even if you’re living under a rock, make the isolation an entertaining one with a suspenseful trip down the lanes with Take Shelter!