Safe Haven

 

Safe Haven (2013)

A Coastal Romance Hijacked by Thriller Tropes

★★½☆☆

A sappy Nicholas Sparks adaptation elevated by a capable directorial hand, but hampered by a jarring tonal shift.

Directed by Lasse Hallström, Safe Haven is a watchable romance that benefits from the charismatic presence of its attractive leads, Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough. The film excels early on as it explores a charming, Norman Rockwell-esque small seaside town. However, the story eventually takes an unexpected and unwarranted turn into suspense territory. It is a shame that the narrative lacks the confidence to stay the course with its likable characters rebuilding their lives, instead opting for a B-plot that feels like a misplaced knock-off of Sleeping with the Enemy.

"The thriller aspect and b-plot turns the film into an ugly Sleeping with the Enemy knock-off that just feels out-of-place. It's not thrilling or suspenseful, just annoying as we yearn for the simplicity of the first two acts."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Lasse Hallström
• Starring: Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel
• Supporting: Cobie Smulders, David Lyons
• Source Material: Nicholas Sparks (Novel)

The Vision

Hallström brings his signature warmth to the production, making the coastal setting feel like a genuine character in itself. While the film attempts to add depth by introducing a secondary storyline to avoid being "too uncomplicated," the execution falters. The transition from a gentle romance to an intense thriller is jarring, distracting from the earnest connection between the leads. Rather than enhancing the stakes, the "thriller" elements serve as an unnecessary distraction from the film's initial, more effective simplicity.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Southport Sights: The film was shot on location in Southport, North Carolina, a town that has served as the backdrop for several other Nicholas Sparks adaptations.
• Hallström’s History: This was director Lasse Hallström's second Sparks adaptation, following the successful Dear John (2010).
• That "Twist": The film's supernatural-leaning ending (a staple of the novel) was highly divisive among critics, with many feeling it clashed with the grounded realism of the earlier acts.

✅ Pros

• Charismatic and attractive lead performances.
• Beautifully captured, charming small-town setting.
• Capable direction that makes the first two acts very watchable.

❌ Cons

• Jarring and unwarranted turn into suspense thriller territory.
• Feels like an uninspired knock-off of better "woman on the run" films.
• Secondary storyline lacks genuine thrills or suspense.

🏆 Final Verdict

A decent coastal romance that loses its way when it tries to become a thriller. Safe Haven is best enjoyed for its visual charm and lead chemistry, even if the plot eventually spins out into the annoying.

View original review on Letterboxd