Safe Haven
Safe Haven is well defined by its bucolic (and paradoxically named) Southport North Carolina location where you’re hit with the double whammy of small town hospitality and Southern hospitality all at once - although ironically neither is dished up with a southern accent. This coastal town is home to Alex Wheatley (Josh Duhamel) a hunky but awkward widower who runs the local general store with the help of adorably precious daughter Kristen (Mimi Kirkland). Son Josh (Noah Lomax) isn’t as much help as he can still remember his mother which leaves him somewhat broody. Their hometown gets a lot more interesting when a pretty blonde named Katie (Juliana Hough) never gets back on the Greyhound making a pit stop there on its way to Atlanta. At first Katie is standoffish – so much so she takes up residence in a cabin way out in the bush where she strikes up a friendship with Jo (Vancouver’s Cobie Smudler). Upon her urging Katie lets down her guard since when it comes to Alex, Jo seems to have a real sixth sense (you’ll get that later). As the family of three is morphing into a contented foursome however Detective Tierney (David Lyons) of the Boston PD is honing in on this refuge, chasing down Katie for the accused crime that landed her on that bus in the first place. Sure it’s a romantic drama conveniently released on Valentines Day, but to write Safe Haven off as a chick flick would be a little unjust. It’s a fluid film with charming characters that shifts gears into a stalker flick twisting to a delightful supernatural finish.