This is a film with some excruciatingly wooden acting – though not by Gallo, whose presence makes every scene he’s in about seven times more interesting.

Gallo’s authentically raw performance also has an unintended consequence: It makes the rest of the film look even more crude and amateurish by comparison.

“Shut In” doesn’t redefine the genre by any means but it’s a polished exercise in confined terror with a very nasty bite to it.

... recommendable primarily for some organically tense moments between engaging characters, well-realized by the performers.