Shelter in Solitude Movie Review
Shelter in Solitude is an incredible story about a death row prisoner with 10 days left to live who forms an unconventional bond with a wannabe country singer. This is a must see film! It is funny, compassionate and has a beautiful message.
Central New York native Siobhan Fallon Hogan made a splash at the premiere of her latest film, which had its world premiere Wednesday at Kevin Smith’s inaugural SModCastle Film Festival in Atlantic Highlands.
The Story
The film tells the incredible story of a death row prisoner with 10 days to live who forms an unconventional relationship with a wannabe country singer. It is a captivating movie about hope, faith and friendship. It has a perfect blend of comedy and drama. It is an American story that should not be missed.
Siobhan Fallon Hogan stars as the lead and also wrote the screenplay for the movie. She is a Central New York native who grew up in Cazenovia and attended Le Moyne College. She has an impressive list of credits including Seinfeld and Men in Black.
She filmed Shelter in Solitude last year in Syracuse, Erieville and Cazenovia, including a defunct jail on State Street. It is her second feature and the first release from EMFILM, a distribution company she formed with her husband and son Peter. It follows her 2021 directorial debut RUSHED, which Vertical Entertainment released domestically and had a world premiere at Kevin Smith’s SModcastle Film Festival.
The Cast
Siobhan Fallon Hogan makes a wonderful screen presence as Val, lonesome tavern owner and former Ole Opry vedette. She finds purpose and redemption at the height of Covid with a new job as a prison warden, a position that leads to an unconventional relationship with a death row inmate (Peter Macon).
Written and directed by Vibeke Muasya (Rushed), Shelter in Solitude is an authentic drama full of humour and emotion. It’s a vumoo film that celebrates family, faith and the ability to find hope in unlikely places.
From humor to tears and back again, the story takes viewers on a journey that explores the depths of humanity. The actors deliver fantastic performances that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Don’t miss this movie when it hits theatres on October 6, 2023. You’ll be glad you did!
The Music
The movie is a captivating story of a death row prisoner with only days left to live and his relationship with a washed-up country singer. Its characters are funny and compassionate. It reinforces the idea that you should never judge someone because you don’t know what they have been through or who they are capable of becoming.
Central New York native Siobhan Fallon Hogan stars in and wrote the film, which premiered Wednesday night at Manlius Cinema, a stone’s throw from her hometown of Cazenovia. The former Seinfeld actress, who also starred in Forrest Gump and Men in Black, also served as the director of photography for this new release.
It is the second feature from her production company, Emerald Caz Productions, and is a co-production with Legendary Goat Productions. Her son Peter Munson Hogan is a producer and the film’s music supervisor, while daughter Sinead acts and serves as the production designer. Rushed, the first film from the duo, was released domestically by Vertical Entertainment last fall.
The Visuals
Director Vibeke Muasya delivers a special fusion of humour and emotion in this captivating drama about a death row prisoner with 10 days to live and his relationship with a wannabe country western singer. Featuring Rumson-based music producer Kyle Ward as the film’s composer, Shelter in Solitude will stay with you long after you leave the theatre.
It is Siobhan Fallon Hogan’s second feature as writer/producer following RUSHED which Vertical Entertainment released domestically last fall and Octane Entertainment took internationally. She is also well known for her work on stage and screen as an actress (SNL, Men in Black, Seinfeld) and as a dancer/choreographer.
The film was screened at Kevin Smith’s first SModCastle Film Festival in Atlantic Highlands NJ and stars Robert Patrick (Terminator 2 and Yellowstone), Peter Macon (Fox series The Orville) and Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson). It is produced by Emerald Caz Productions and distributed by EMFILM Distribution, the distribution company formed by Fallon Hogan along with her husband and son.