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"Safe Haven" More Than A "Safe Bet" For Valentine's Day

HOLLYWOOD (WWJ) – Let me just cut to the chase: Safe Haven is yet another winner based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. And for all of you lovebirds out there, this movie is a sure bet for Valentine's Day.

How many women (and men) know what it's like to endure - literally suffer through - a relationship where the love is gone? Countless, I'm sure. And how many women (and men) find themselves in abusive relationships? Equally countless, I'm sure. Well, those are exactly the situations that Katie Feldman (Julianne Hough) is dealing with in Safe Haven.

Well enough is enough, and Katie eventually finds herself in a small North Carolina town, where she hopes to escape her situation. She takes a job as a waitress and pretty much keeps to herself in order to maintain a low profile. Even when handsome (and I do mean handsome) Alex (Josh Duhamel) comes along, Katie is disinterested. After all, there's just too much at risk.

SAFE HAVEN
(Left to Right.) Novelist/producer Nicholas Sparks with Director Lasse Hallstrom on the set of Relativity Media's "Safe Haven." © 2012 Safe Haven Productions. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: James Bridges

In the true spirit of Valentine's Day, however, Katie slowly begins to trust again. And that's exactly what she'll need in order to get to the next chapter in her story.

Safe Haven is one of those movies that'll catch you by surprise – because whether you've read the book or not, you probably won't see what's coming. And that's exactly what the team behind Safe Haven had in mind.

"Because it's a thriller, we wanted to heighten the suspense as much as possible and that meant keeping things back from the audience," producer Tracey Nyberg said. "But we know that a large portion of the audience will have already read the book. So we tried to find ways to suspend their disbelief in order to surprise them. I think we've set it up so that you're not sure why Katie is being pursued or just who is chasing her. Everyone goes into a Nicholas Sparks movie expecting the romance and emotion, but the twist should set this one apart."

Mission accomplished.

Check out the sizzle reel below and I'll see you at the movies!

Follow Terri on Twitter @TerriJLee

Read Terri's entertainment news blog here.

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