You pretty much know a movie has the word “clunker” written all over it when a low-key release date is announced two years after it was filmed.  That seems to be the story with the film Shelter, starring Julianne Moore and Cork’s own Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

The horror/thriller was shot in 2008. Moore plays a forensic psychiatrist who treats a man (JRM) who has multiple personality disorders.  Problem is, all of his multiple personalities wind up being murder victims, and Moore encounters big trouble when she attempts to delve deeper into the mystery.

Shelter is going on release in Ireland and the U.K. on Friday, but so far the early reviews seem to justify its long life on the shelf.  The Irish Independent called it “pretty bad,” while the critic at News of the World in London said, “Being nice, I'd say it was worth a DVD rental. But hey, you know where being nice gets you. So skip it.”

Moore, one of filmdom’s most accomplished actresses, had nothing but praise for her Irish co-star. "I think his work has just been wonderful and he's been serious and fun and has just done some really terrific and interesting and surprising work. He's been lovely,” she said.

JRM was equally effusive about his co-star. "Julianne's amazing -- one of the main reasons to do the film.  She's very strong, but strong in a very maternal way. She's an extraordinary actress."

There is no U.S. release date for Shelter, but JRM fans can get their fill of new material featuring their man thanks to YouTube, which is now broadcasting the premiere of the fourth and final season of his top-rated Showtime series "The Tudors." Showtime won’t actually air the premiere until this Sunday.