Safe Haven Movie Explained

[Flaviana Bresee]

Ihad no plans to see Safe Haven. I wasn't covering the movie for any particular reason, and it seemed, from the trailer and word of mouth, like one I could safely skip. Then I started hearing vague references to its twist ending. Then Matt Singer at IndieWire wrote a piece arguing that maybe some movies should be spoiled in advance -- since knowing that a given twist ending is this ludicrous might convince you to spend money on Safe Haven. After researching what this twist ending actually was, I spent money on Saturday to see Safe Haven.

Let me start by saying that I am not at all disappointed with my decision -- the ending was just as bizarre as advertized. Though, I'm fairly certain my fellow audience members who were there to see a well-constructed story do not share my sentiments. Walking out, I overheard a woman who looked to be in her late 60s ask her husband, "Can you believe it was that bad?" (In response, he shrugged.)

As you saw in the title of this post, we are going to discuss the ending of Safe Haven at length. I suspect you are in one of two camps at this point: (a) you are a Nicholas Sparks fan and you've seen Safe Haven, or (b) you have no intentions of seeing Safe Haven or, if you do, it's only because you're being forced to see it. If you are in the latter group, you may want to stick around.

Julianne Hough plays Katie, a woman on the run who finds, yes, safe haven in North Carolina. What she is running from, we're not sure at first. It appears that she's on the run from the police and, through some misleading flashbacks, it does appear that Katie killed someone -- there's even an APB out for her arrest on murder charges. But, you see, there is a twist! (Not the twist, though.) It turns out that the police officer obsessed with finding Katie is her husband. And it turns out that Katie didn't kill anyone, she only slightly stabbed her husband in self-defense because he's an abusive drunk.

It's funny, when I first started hearing about "the twist," I assumed it would turn out to be the false murder rap. (Like the husband at the movie theater would later do, I shrugged.) Boy, I was wrong.

So, once Katie gets to North Carolina, she befriends a widower named Alex, played by Josh Duhamel. She also befriends her new neighbor, Jo, played by Cobie Smulders. For 80 percent of the movie, it's just scene after scene of Typical Movie Romance -- there are floor painting and conversations about kale. All the while, Katie confides her feelings toward Alex to her new friend, Jo. (This is your last chance to stop reading before we get to the twist.)

So, Jo is a ghost. And not just any ghost; she's the ghost of Alex's dead wife, who wants to make sure that Katie is a serviceable replacement. Now, again, I knew this before I saw Safe Haven, but knowing didn't make the movie any less absurd. (During the reveal, the crowd let out an audible groan.) I couldn't help but wonder what supernatural rules govern the universe of this movie. I mean, the first time we meet Jo, she's peering into the window of Katie's home and seems genuinely startled when Katie sneaks up on her from behind. (Is this possible? Can a living human not only sneak up on a ghost but startle a ghost?) I suppose some clues are there: Jo seems very interested in Alex, Joe never participates in any group events, Jo watches passively (or dickishly) as Katie paints her floor with no help.

This is one of the most insane twists that I've ever seen in a movie. Not because it's a great twist, but because it's so out of left field. Actually, the rather pedestrian notion of "left field" doesn't do this justice. It's more out of left of left field -- you know, where the ball boy sits waiting for foul balls to scoop up and toss into the stands. It's as if that guy all of a sudden came up with this twist. I mean, there is nothing about the tone of Safe Haven that would ever make you think that one of the main characters is a ghost.

Aside from those totally true examples, Safe Haven has the most absurd ending to a movie that I can remember. Adding to this, when Katie realizes that she befriended a ghost, it does not faze her in the least. The look her face seems to say, Huh. Wadd'ya know?

I am not suggesting that you see Safe Haven based on this twist alone -- but I am kind of suggesting that you see Safe Haven based on this twist alone. It's weird. If my mindset had been, "I want to see a romantic movie that made me cry," I would have walked out just as disappointed as the woman I mentioned earlier. But! Going in with the mindset of, "I want to see this batshit-crazy ending for myself that I've been hearing about all week," well, Safe Haven delivered beyond my wildest dreams.

They can be one of the ways that you can diversify your portfolio to protect against risk. Safe havens offer stable returns during unstable times. Though their low risk comes with lower potential returns, they can provide stability when high risk investments stumble.

Inflation erodes the purchasing power of investments, even safe havens. Of particular concern would be a rising inflation rate concurrent with a drop in investment account value. Even though safe havens may not drop as much as some other investments, they still suffer from inflation's power to eat away at value.

It depends on what you want in an investment. A safe haven is a lower risk (lower return) investment that can help diversify a portfolio and offset to some degree the greater risk of investments that offer the potential for higher returns. Having both types of investments makes sense for many investors.

Safe Haven rules ONLY apply to certain hazmat drivers. There is NO safe haven rule that allows non-hazmat drivers to exceed hours of service. The term, safe haven, applies to parking locations for hazmat drivers.

Drivers often confuse the Safe Haven rule with the adverse conditions rule which applies to adverse weather and catastrophic wreck or traffic conditions, when a trip that might have taken you two hours on a regular day, may now take you four, causing you to struggle to find safe parking or reach your destination within your allowable driving hours.

In case of any emergency, a driver may complete his/her run without being in violation of the provisions of the regulations in this part, if such run reasonably could have been completed absent the emergency.

It seems that JavaScript is not working in your browser. It could be because it is not supported, or that JavaScript is intentionally disabled. Some of the features on CT.gov will not function properly with out javascript enabled.

While engaged and planning their wedding, the Clarks attended a DCF Open House to learn about fostering and adopting in Connecticut. Soon after, they began the required training and became a licensed home right before their wedding day. Their support social worker, Robyn Wood, suggested that they place their home on hold until after they returned from their honeymoon.

Connecticut's Safe Havens Act for Newborns was passed in 2000. The law allows a parent, who does not believe they can care for their newborn, to voluntarily give up custody of an infant age 30 days or younger to the staff of an emergency room and remain anonymous. DCF will then place the baby in a pre-approved adoptive home.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions," Mike explained, adding, We were both happy and scared, terrified, and thrilled. We had gone through a few letdowns (not being picked in teamings), and to finally get that call that we were selected was amazing."

According to Robyn, the difficult decisions of the birth family are not lost on Cara and Mike and the story of the parents who recognized what they needed to do to keep their child safe will always be part of the story that they share with their son.

Although Kevin was born healthy, there were some tests that were pending results that extended his stay in the hospital. Mike, who just happened to work at the hospital, was able to spend a lot of time holding and bonding with their son. I never understood what parents meant when they said their child means everything to them, but now I understand. Having Kevin makes me want to be a better man, husband, and father," he stated.

State law allows parents to bring their baby to a hospital without facing charges of abandonment, although the parents can still be held accountable if abuse or neglect occurred. The birth parents did not come forward within the 30-day appeal period and never shared their identities.

When asked what life is like with Kevin, who is now two years old, Cara explained, Our days are filled with so many moments of gratitude. Kevin's happy personality since he was born has made the biggest and best positive impact on me mentally and emotionally."

A safe haven is a space where I can just be. Where I step out of the mask and armor that protect me from the expectations, cynicism, judgment, and harshness of the outside world. Where I expose my soft introverted insides without worry.

There are two things I can offer more of. One is generative, intuitive and cross-pollinating conversation where we riff off of each other in relatedness and idea explosions. I always have energy for that because it generates energy as it occurs. Each association and new idea literally give me a shot of pleasure inducing dopamine. The other is emotional understanding in your direction. I will strive to support and understand your emotional needs. Your soft interior is important to me. Please let me in. I live to aid you in healing and growth.

I need conversational support. Rapport is life-giving. If you often say things that seem unkind to me or others, I feel pain. If you often offend people or make them feel small, pain. If you often disagree with me or I with you, pain. Stress. Conflict. I eventually feel beaten up inside. Hurt.

I know I am especially sensitive. I know I am complex and difficult at times. But if you make me feel emotionally safe and loved, I will be your ever strong golden hearted sweet companion and impassioned lover. If you are gentle on my spirit, I will be pure love on yours.

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