The Daily Wire’s ‘Shut In’ is a gripping film about perseverance

The film is a psycho-thriller, centering around a young single mother who is held captive in her pantry by her violent ex and his meth-addict friend. Shut In sets up this situation in such a way that it induces anxiety in the viewer.

In fact, Shut In quickly becomes every parent's worst nightmare. Imagine a situation where a violent pedophile is hunting your children throughout the house and you are effectively, helpless to do anything about it. This is what griped me most in the film. It does not shy away from the horrifying reality of what is going to happen if the mother fails to escape her captivity.

But the premise of the young mother being trapped is more than just a physical problem. The film describes the young mother as a recovering addict who is jaded toward traditionalism and the memories of her grandmother's house—the same house she is currently trapped in. Throughout the film, the protagonist glances at the crucifix nailed to the pantry wall and feels a connection to the Christ figure.

Christian symbolism is seldom an obvious theme in modern cinema. There are Christian archetypes that are unavoidable, even for the most aggressively postmodern filmmakers, but Shut In doesn't shy away from Christian themes. Instead, the film embraces them.

It was refreshing to see the prevalence of Christian symbolism in a film that is modern and dark. Too often, we never see such symbolism, or when we do, it's wrapped up in a Hallmark level of artistry.

Instead, Shut In is a very serious movie, diving into philosophical quandaries of whether one is able to redeem themselves and the magnitude of a mothers love for her children.

We don't really see films like Shut In anymore. Hollywood has moved on to productions that are mind numbingly artificial, or entirely compromised by political messaging. The worst is when the Hollywood does both, but Shut In is neither. It is a reminder of our humanity, fears and ability to overcome great challenges.

"If you want milquetoast polemics masquerading as entertainment, Daily Wire's film venture isn't for you. 'Shut In' is a fiercely independent, powerful movie about motherhood and redemption. It's riveting. It's challenging. It's highly entertaining. We cannot wait to release it next week,” said Daily Wire co-founder and co-CEO Jeremy Boreing.

Shut In was directed by DJ Caruso ("Disturbia") and stars Rainey Qualley ("Ultrasound") and Jake Horowitz ("The Vast of Night"). The film also marks the comeback of indie film icon Vincent Gallo ("Buffalo ’66") in his first major role in nearly a decade.

Boreing and Daily Wire co-founders Ben Shapiro and Caleb Robinson serve as executive producers on the film. This is The Daily Wire's first original feature-length film after announcing it was breaking into entertainment with the acquisition of Kyle Rankin’s Run Hide Fight from Bonfire Legend.

The Daily Wire is hosting a special viewing for its first original film, Shut In, at 9 pm on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Limited to viewers in the United States, the 90-minute thriller will be streamed in its totality on the company’s YouTube channel. Following the premiere, it will be available exclusively to Daily Wire members on DailyWire.com.

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