Jason Statham's latest thriller "Shelter" is not your typical Statham-flick

Writer: Ann Tan

Jason Statham brings his A-game to "Shelter"

29 Jan - Jason Statham is back doing what he does best - intense action sequences and edge-of-your-seat thrillers - but this time with a twist. His latest film "Shelter," directed by Ric Roman Waugh, sees the action star tackling more emotional territory than usual.

The film follows a reclusive man (Jason Statham) who rescues a young girl (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) from a deadly storm, drawing them both into danger. Forced out of isolation, he must confront his turbulent past while protecting her, sending them on a tense journey of survival and redemption.

"The tone of this movie is certainly more in the realms of a dramatical thriller. That sets it apart," Statham explained during the film's recent press day.

Jason Statham opens up about pushing himself hard for "Shelter"

Working with director Ric Roman Waugh who has a background as a stunt performer proved to be an ideal pairing for the action veteran. Both men know what works and what doesn't when it comes to fight choreography.

"We both know what we want. We both know what's cheesy, what isn't cheesy, what's good, what's exciting, what's going to work, what's not going to work. We are aligned," Statham said of their collaboration.

The physical demands were intense either. Statham found himself dragged to the bottom of a tank simulating drowning, battling ocean waves, and rescuing the young girl from a sinking ship, all while fully clothed.

"You need to be a good swimmer. You're fully clothed and you need to be confident. Those skills are learned not on the day and certainly not the week before," he said, emphasising that action work requires years of training, not just a crash course.

Jason Statham with co-star Bodhi Rae Breathnach

Director Waugh has called this one of Statham's best performances, and the actor admits he's always pushing himself hard regardless of the project. But balancing the brutal action with vulnerable emotional moments required careful collaboration.

"With a good director it's very easy to place yourself within that moment and then the driving action is always driven by the emotion of that moment," Statham explained.

As for what he hopes audiences will take away from the film? Statham keeps it simple.

"When you go and see a movie like this, you want to be on the edge of your seat. You want to have the tension and the drama," he said. "I think Ric said if we can eek out a tear or two in these emotional moments then we've sort of rang the bell."

The ultimate goal, Statham says, is for people to walk out of the cinema and tell their friends, "You know what, that was a good movie. You should see that, too. I think then we've won."

Don't miss Jason Statham in "Shelter" as the thriller opens in cinemas today, 29 January.

Cinema Online, 29 January 2026