Gimme Shelter

Streetwise teen Apple Bailey (Hudgens) runs away from her drug addict abusive mother (Dawson) in search of a better life.  She locates her father, Tom (Fraser), and moves in with his family.  But when they learn that Apple is pregnant, Tom and his idyllic family, wife Joanna (Szostak) and children, reject her.  With no else to go Apple turns to the streets.

With no where else to turn she seeks help and guidance from Father Frank McCarthy (Jones), a kindly priest.  To give her a chance for a better life with her baby, he sends her to live with Kathy (Dowd), who opens her home to pregnant teens.


A friend has been talking about this film for months.  Once it was released on DVD, she purchased it and we got together to watch it.  I was hesitant, based on the basic description and the fact that I hadn't heard anything about the film.  But I was pleasantly surprised.

The story feels realistic... gritty and dark.  The performances are good, especially the girls at the shelter, who are the most realistic characters.  Rosario Dawson disappears into her character and is almost unrecognizable.  Brendan Fraser and James Earl Jones are good as their respective characters.  Vanessa Hudgens carries the film with ease.

I hated the ending, but overall enjoyed the film.

Gimme Shelter (2013) 101 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material involving mistreatment, some drug content, violence and language - all concerning teens.
Director: Ron Krauss
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens as Agnes "Apple" Bailey
Rosario Dawson as June Bailey
Brendan Fraser as Tom Fitzpatrick
James Earl Jones as Frank McCarthy
Ann Dowd as Kathy
Stephanie Szostak as Joanna Fitzpatrick