A survival thriller of intense air and unexpected depth, Shut In features magnetic performances by Rainey Qualley and Vincent Gallo as adversaries trapped in a battle of will and spirit.

Directed by D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) and written by Melanie Toast, the 89-minute Shut In stars Rainey Qualley as Jessica, a young mother who is trying to start her life anew after years of drug addiction.

While moving out of her grandmother’s ramshackle rural home, Jessica’s worst nightmares are realised when her junkie partner Rob (Jake Horowitz) and his child abuser friend Sammy (Vincent Gallo) ascend upon Jessica’s home and imprison her in the pantry. With the safety of her children on the line, Jessica must find her way out and overcome her captors.

Caruso has crafted an intense thriller in Shut In. The stakes – high, palpable, ever present – are made more intimate by the performance of Vincent Gallo, who with his jittery wild-card persona and Charles Manson inspired look, makes for an intimidating figure. It’s been several years since Gallo last appeared on screen and it is indeed a welcome return for the notorious actor.

Complementing is Rainey Qualley in her biggest role to date as a young mother caught in a battle of psychological and spiritual warfare against a despicable predator. Qualley throws herself into the highly demanding physical and emotional aspects of her role to evoke the desperate situation her character endures. With southern draw, striking looks and the acting chops to boot, Qualley is sure to make waves if the right roles come her way.

If there is any gripe to be had, it is that there should have been more scenes between Qualley and Gallo, so strong there moments together.

Crisp imagery from cinematographer Akis Konstantakopoulos (Bereave) captures the rich greens and browns of the films rustic setting, while the creak of every floorboard and thud of every door makes for an imposing soundtrack. Caruso expertly ratchets up tensions, especially in those sequences that lead up to violent acts that may make some squeamish, with one moment involving a screwdriver especially gruesome.

While Shut In screams exploitation drivel, the high quality of craft is matched by a depth found in its themes of sacrifice, temptation, and rebirth. Caruso expertly weaves in subtle religious symbolism and allegory to further create a spinechiller in which genre conventions blend with dramatic stakes to make for a strong, solid thriller.