Ric Roman Waugh knows his way around an action sequence, and an action star, having build his career as a writer/director on the back of decades as an accomplished stunt man and coordintator. It might also be why he likes taking risks.

While a Jason Statham action movie isn’t, on the surface, a risky proposition, the approach Waugh takes sure is.

The film spends a lot of time avoiding obvious exposition, which he discussed in our exclusive conversation as running quite contrary to some of the unfortunate industry wide mandates of our time. It doesn’t end there though. In addition to avoiding exposition through dialogue, Waugh made sure to pump the breaks early and make sure “Shelter” is more of a slow burn. Taking cues from his mentor and north star filmmaker Tony Scott’s “Man on Fire,” Waugh wanted to build a relationship with stakes first, then layer in action second.

He also took chances in his collaboration with Statham, asking him to show a slightly different side of himself in a character that unfurls in a different manner, and at a different pace, than audiences may be accustomed to.

All the usual Statham and Waugh fireworks will be there, in due time. Though Waugh is dogged in his commitment to how he builds what he believes is the foundation to a decent story first, a compelling drama about characters with something at stake. For him, these actual stakes are mirrored by his set-ups and even his stunts. His expert approach doesn’t put people in real danger, but he makes sure that the performers can feel something of the risk, so the audience can taste real fear. He pointed to one sequence where stars Bodhi Rae Breathnach (Jesse) and Statham were high above the Thames needing to rely on one another as a place where he got exactly what he needed on screen by putting the actors in a position to experience something real.

Maybe it’s the years doing the stunts, maybe its his own deep passion for cinema history (he cites the seminal film “Shane” as an influence on this one), but whatever it is Waugh is deeply committed to a kind of authenticity that he believes audiences deserve.

“Shelter” is in theaters January 30, 2026.

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