Safe Haven (2013)

A young woman with a mysterious past lands in Southport, North Carolina where her bond with a widower forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her.

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers:

Dana Stevens (screenplay), Gage Lansky (screenplay)

Stars:

Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julianne Hough	...	Katie
Irene Ziegler	...	Mrs. Feldman
Jon Kohler	...	Bus Station Clerk
Tim Parati	...	Bus Station Worker
David Lyons	...	Tierney
Josh Duhamel	...	Alex
Giulia Pagano	...	Pushy Bus Woman
Juan Piedrahita	...	Jr. Detective Ramirez (as Juan Carlos Piedrahita)
Red West	...	Roger
Noah Lomax	...	Josh
Mimi Kirkland	...	Lexie
Robin Mullins	...	Maddie
Jasper Grey	...	Bus Boy
Tora Hallström	...	Ivan's Waitress
Wendy Wilmot	...	Realtor

Storyline

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family. But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and ...

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Plot Keywords:

chick flick | abusive husband | secret | love | north carolina | 

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Taglines:

You know it when you find it.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving threatening behavior, and for violence and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

Portuguese English

Release Date:

14 February 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Safe Haven - Wie ein Licht in der Nacht

Filming Locations:

Southport, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$21,401,594 (USA) (15 February 2013)

Gross:

$71,346,930 (USA) (24 May 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Relativity Media, Temple Hill Entertainment, Nicholas Sparks Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the novel, Alex's daughter is named Kristen while her name is Lexie in the film.

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Goofs

Near the beginning of the film, an aerial view of the bus taking Katie to Atlanta is shown traveling on the Linn Cove viaduct in western North Carolina. The Linn Cove viaduct is part of the National Park Service's Blue Ridge Parkway and is closed to commercial vehicles including buses.

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Quotes

Lexie: I need her to come right now!

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Connections

Featured in Chelsea Lately: Episode #7.24 (2013)

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Soundtracks

Heart's Content (String Mix)
Written by Brandi Carlile (as Brandi M. Carlisle), Phillip John Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth (as Timothy Jay Hanseroth)
Performed by Brandi Carlile
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Unimaginably Boring for so much Potential

This story line had so much potential with domestic abuse, redemption, love, family, but the screen writers TOTALLY missed the mark - Josh Duhamel does a decent job - not the vacuous role he is usually placed in and pulls off more than a pretty face here - David Lyons as the alcoholic Detective Tiernny and abusive husband of Hough shined - he seems made for bad guy roles - Julianne Hough - I think the girl has some potential as actor given a more meaty role but as stated this was painfully drawn out with idyllic lazy southern settings where IMPOSSIBLY in a town of 2000 no one questions the appearance of a newcomer and in fact embraces her without question (being from the south - that "ain't" how we operate - if you are in town for more than 48 hours we know everything about you if we have to pry it out with a velvet crowbar), impossible circumstances, clichés enough to fill a NY phone book. Oh how I wish they'd made the most of this story line.

All of this being said - the last 40 minutes was great and the ending? TOTALLY unexpected - right out of left field - loved it - knowing what I know now I would watch the first 20 minutes to get the lay of the land and characters, then skip to 108 and watch to the end. Sadly I cannot give this more than a 3 thanks to an awful job by the screen writers.